Young Sabahans turn to social media amid party scepticism

New Straits Times

10-06-2025

KOTA KINABALU: A significant number of young Sabahans are becoming politically literate through social media, said Sabah Youth Council president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan.
However, he said that this group of youngsters, aged between 18 and 40, remains sceptical of formal institutions and traditional political parties.
Abqaree said younger voters are increasingly looking past party logos and towards individual candidates' track records.
"Sabahan youth are primarily concerned with daily, tangible issues such as access to jobs, basic amenities like roads, electricity, clean water, reliable internet, land rights, and the cost of living, especially outside Kota Kinabalu.
"This mistrust stems from years of political instability, party-hopping, and leadership that appears inconsistent or out of touch.
"Young voters want to see action, not just promises," he told the New Straits Times, while warning of the possibility that they may also decline to vote if there isn't a strong campaign to raise awareness and rekindle interest in choosing credible leaders.
While Abqaree said that youngsters, especially from rural Sabah, resonate strongly with the "Sabah for Sabahan" sentiment, Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas offered a different perspective on the matter.
The research assistant at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) said that while the sentiment continues to gain traction, it is also clear that today's youth are deeply pragmatic.
"What they want are realistic policies, meaningful autonomy, and effective delivery mechanisms.
"Many are prioritising leadership quality, transparency, and the ability to deliver on real issues: jobs, education, cost of living, and equitable development.
"This pragmatism reflects a long-standing political culture in Sabah, where voters are known to cross party lines if it means better governance or greater returns for the state."
The former two-time election candidate from Kiulu, who is also studying the political participation of Undi18 voters, said that political parties must rise to the occasion.
This state election may well determine whether Sabah's political scene can evolve in step with a younger generation that is values-driven, outcome-focused, and determined to shape a more inclusive and locally grounded future.
"If parties continue to neglect youth representation or fail to deliver tangible reforms, they risk being rejected by a generation that's no longer easily swayed by party nostalgia or outdated campaign methods."