LETTER | My message of hope to youths

LETTER | Today marks a momentous day as all our 18-year-old youths have finally gained their freedom to be officially recognised as voters. This is because the amendment to the federal constitution that reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 comes into full force and effect starting from today.

Each and every one of you new voters, aged 18 to 21, having the combined strength of 5.8 million strong, will have the chance to shape the country's future direction come next general election.

Before today, you had to depend on your parents and older adults to vote and decide on your behalf. You had no say in any matter of importance which affected your lives or the country when it came down to the ballot box.

Today, all that will change. From here on, you will join your parents and other adults as equal partners in exercising your fundamental right to make that all-important decision in electing our future governments.

Whether we succeed or fail as a nation tomorrow begins with what actions you take today with your newly empowered right to vote.

All our hopes rest with you to champion us all - in becoming a better version of ourselves, acting as our agents for change, in re-building a better Malaysia, a more just and fair Malaysia for all Malaysians - which our forefathers and we have long aspired and dreamed, our country would one day become.

I will end my message with the often-quoted moral code from the spiderman marvel comic when he discovered his superpowers: "With great power, comes great responsibility". That's all on you now.

GOOI HSIAO LEUNG is assemblyperson for Bukit Tengah, Penang.

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