Much has been said about the “What Say Youth” town hall session that took place on Nov 21.
It featured two political heavyweights — former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.
Most, if not all, of what has been said showed that many are sceptical of Pakatan Harapan’s formation or, more precisely, its leaders.
Were those stories that appeared in the media representative of what happened at the youth town hall? To a certain extent, admittedly so.
But allow us to tell you the stories of the few. And in doing that, we begin with the story of the few who want to make a difference.
The conception of this town hall session began with a few young people aged under 35 who believe in a better Malaysia.
We believe that a better Malaysia comes about through policy making, and in order to get involved in policy making, politics is fortunately, or unfortunately, a reality.
Having said that, we realised from our peers that they might not necessarily share the same dream as we do. Statistics show that 70% of young people are not interested in politics.
There lay our problem — a better Malaysia is contingent upon the people of our future. Yet, those who form that future do not seem to want to be a part of it.
To bridge that gap, it became apparent that two things needed to be done — engagement and empowerment. Hence, the youth town hall.
Did we achieve these objectives? Quite so. We will tell you why through the stories of the few who chose to instil hope.
Among the criticisms hurled at the new opposition alliance and at Mahathir’s past was a young man who took the microphone and said:
“It starts with us. All of us are youngsters. We should step up, join politics to do our part to bring unity.
“If we have people who step up for truth and justice, I think whatever it is, whoever becomes the prime minister, would be able to lead the country properly.”
A few others who did not take the microphone that night but who had private conversations with us said they still believe in Malaysia; that to not vote is a waste of democracy and that they are expecting change.
It’s totally a youth thing to question things that raise their curiosity, let alone issues that will directly decide their future and the nation’s wellbeing.
It, however, doesn’t stop any of them from believing in and fighting for a better cause.
There lies empowerment. There lies engagement. But, more importantly, there lies hope.
According to Malcom Gladwall, the author of The Tipping Point, “the law of the few” provides that any kind of social epidemic depends on the few. In other words, the “work” will be done by 20% of the participants.
So here’s to the untold stories of the few who choose to instil hope. Our stories do not make headlines but our hearts and efforts collectively will be the unseen winds of change.
Michelle Ng is a practising lawyer and DAP legal bureau secretary while Kerk Chee Yee is political secretary to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
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