He said the 700,000 new voters aged below 21, forming 30% of Johor’s 2.5 million voters, would ensure that candidates in the elections provide answers to basic bread-and-butter issues that conern them.

“The young people, whose future is in limbo due to political instability and a sliding economy, can ensure this polls is a litmus test for politicians who think they can continue to do a ‘wayang kulit’ on voters,” he said in a statement today.

Santiago questioned if the nominated candidates would explore durable solutions to unemployment, loss of income and business, the state’s water crisis, and the inability for some to put food on the table.

He said it was time to ask questions, demand answers, hold politicians accountable and show them the voters cannot be taken for granted.

“We can ensure the Johor elections aren’t a drumbeat to the death of democracy, rule of law, transparency and good governance,” he said.

Yesterday, KRA Group strategy director Amir Fareed Rahim said the emergence of new young voters had caused many major political parties to field young candidates.

The political analyst said the fact that 70% of candidates were fresh faces showed the power of young voters.

The March 12 elections will be the first in which voters aged 18 to 20 will cast their ballots.

This is in accordance with a 2019 constitutional amendment that lowered the voting age to 18.

Election Commission deputy chairman Azmi Sharom was recently quoted as saying that about 6% of the 2.5 million voters in Johor were from the “Undi18 segment”.

The latest electoral roll, gazetted in January, includes those who turned 18 on Dec 31.

Nominations will take place tomorrow and early voting on March 8.