KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN ABU BAKAR

Close to two-thirds of young Malaysians believe that the country is on the right track.

But in a telephone survey conducted by the BN Youth Lab, where more than 1,000 people below 35 were polled, close to a third of them also thought that the country's situation is either “worrying”, or “getting worse”.

In the survey conducted last month, findings of which were posted today on BN Youth lab's blog, the participants were also asked what they were most concerned about, to which 66 per cent of them said that employment and their careers were top of their worries.

One-fifths said they were also concerned about their children's education and future, while the rest were more worried about the rising cost of living (12%), while 2% had “other concerns” or none at all.

What gets under the skin of most youth, the survey found, are the increasing crime rate, with half of them saying that they were “dissatisfied.”

They are also not happy with the sad state of public transportation (22%), education (13%) and housing (10%).

When asked about what they would like to see improved in Malaysia, a third of them wished for a stronger economy, while less than a quarter yearned for “freedom of expression.”

Transparency, religious tolerance and race-related policies garnered only 19 per cent, 14 per cent and seven per cent, respectively, of their aspirations for Malaysia.

62 percent fence-sitters

On politics, the BN youth lab found out that the majority of youths are not party supporters, with 62 per cent saying that they are still sitting on the fence between BN and Pakatan Rakyat

“They will vote whoever they believe is better come the next general elections,” said the findin

It is understood that BN Youth Lab will also hold focus groups and discussions until next month.

The BN Youth Lab is a special research group formed last month to assist the ruling coalition in formulating appropriate policies pertaining to the younger generations.

khairy jamaluddin kj interview 190310 Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had instructed for the lab to be set up when the BN Youth, headed by Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (left), met him in February.

While the lab secretariat is headed by the coalition, lab members are mainly non-partisan and from all walks of life.

Findings from the survey will be compiled and presented to the PM in forms of policy proposals.

(Source: Malaysiakini)