Kiulu Workshop Highlights Youth’s Role in Democracy
19 January 2025
KIULU: A special workshop aimed at raising awareness and engaging youth in the democratic process through Undi-18 was held in Kiulu on Sunday.
The programme, themed "Get Informed, Get Involved," was jointly organised by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), the N.15 Kiulu Community Development Leader Unit (UPPM), the Gerak Anak Sabah Organization, and the Tuaran Care Organization.
Titled "Empowering 18: Shaping Tomorrow's Democracy," the initiative seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the younger generation as voters, especially in Kiulu, while creating a platform for discussing community issues.
At the closing ceremony, Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai emphasised on the significance of youth participation in the democratic process, despite the prevailing disillusionment with the current political landscape.
"I understand that many may feel disheartened by politics, believing it is filled with empty promises and that no fundamental change occurs. However, this perception should not deter young voters from their responsibility to vote. Voting is a proactive step towards engagement and serves as a meaningful learning experience," he stated.
He encouraged young people to research election candidates, their parties, and manifestos, and to evaluate how these align with the needs of the community.
"Every vote has the potential to influence community development and create opportunities for youth to thrive. As the representative of Kiulu, I am committed to listening to and understanding the younger generation's aspirations. The youth in this area have diverse ambitions in fields such as technology, creative arts, tourism, education, modern agriculture, and entrepreneurship."
"The Undi-18 initiative opens the door for youth to have a voice in democracy and to contribute to development in the areas they are passionate about," he added.
To ensure active youth participation in development planning, Joniston urged UPMM to allocate at least 30 percent of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) to youth representation.
"In this way, Undi-18 becomes more than just a voting initiative; it transforms into a platform for young leaders to showcase their responsibility and actively contribute to our community's development," he concluded.
The programme commenced with a briefing on various initiatives under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Roadmap, delivered by the SMJ Secretariat's Chief Coordination Officer, Datuk Rosmadi Datu Sulai.
The main session featured a workshop titled “Understanding Democracy, the Voting Process, and Practical Aspects of Voting,” led by UNIMAS Senior Lecturer Associate Professor Dr. Arnold Puyok. This session provided practical guidelines on voter registration, ballot usage, and the voting procedure, followed by a Q&A session with participants.
The potential and challenges of Undi-18 in the Malaysian political landscape were discussed in a forum entitled “The Future Direction of Undi-18 in Malaysia,” featuring Jo-Anna Henley Rampas, a representative of Pertubuhan Gerak Anak Sabah/Pertubuhan Tuaran Care and a PhD candidate at UNIMAS, as one of the panellists.
Participants also engaged in group training and expressed their views in a session titled “What Do the Youth of Kiulu Want?”
