Focus on jobs, wages, housing to win Johor youth vote, BN told

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional’s challenge in Johor is convincing young voters that it can deliver jobs, better wages, education opportunities and affordable housing, says Johor Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros.

Azleen said about half of Johor’s 2.7 million voters are below the age of 40, making them the decisive bloc in the coming state election on July 11.

He said younger voters tend to be more “objective” and focused on policy outcomes rather than historical narratives about Umno’s role in national development or its roots in the state.

“If we play the sentimental element with young voters that Umno was responsible for national development, it will not work,” he told FMT when asked about the sentiments of urban Malay youths in Johor.

Instead, he said BN must clearly communicate the state government’s economic transformation plan, which aims to attract nearly RM200 billion in new investments and create 200,000 jobs by 2030, particularly through social media.

According to the electoral roll for the Johor state election, voters aged 30 to 39 form the largest age group with 587,888 voters, followed by those aged 21 to 29 (544,657) and 40 to 49 (492,922).

There are 165,386 voters aged 18 to 20, while 234,980 are above 70.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said BN leaders were aware of their limitations with young voters, pointing to their intensified online engagement.

She said young urban Malays did not have the same nostalgic attachment to BN as older voters, and were more likely to judge parties based on the economy, cost of living and jobs.

“In urban areas, I believe the competition is from PH because young urban Malays are more interested in issues of cost of living and jobs,” she said, calling it “PH’s strength.”

However, Syaza said BN still had an advantage as the incumbent state government and could campaign on its performance.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, on the other hand, said BN was playing catch-up with PH and newer parties such as Parti Bersama Malaysia in engaging younger voters.

He said Umno’s recent online membership drive suggested the party was adapting to changing political realities.

Umno launched its digital membership portal in April, and by May, had recorded nearly 14,000 new sign-ups. Its youth wings accounted for 9,493 of the registrations — 8,233 from the Youth wing and 1,260 from Puteri — representing about 68% of the total.

“(Nostalgia) may work for some time for the older generation, but not for the younger generation,” he said.