LETTERS: Some policymakers claim that our 18-year-olds are still immature to effectively participate in the election process. There is, of course, no real basis for this view.
I still remember when my peers and I were 18-year-olds decades ago. Many of us were engaged in serious debates on nation-building. We were already actively questioning the wisdom of certain government policies and decisions.
At Malay College Kuala Kangsar where I studied, and where some of the existing breed of politicians also had their schooling, I remember how we, at that young age, were already participating in debates and making our stand on the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation, a conflict which almost led to war.
It is no different now. In fact, with the information explosion on the world wide web, today's 18-year-olds are much better informed on national and global issues.
We should not underestimate the political maturity of the 18-year-olds. I am not surprised how active they are in discussing the fate of the nation, especially our socio-economic future.
We are all aware of the fact that our future is fraught with challenges. Climate change is, by all measures, the biggest challenge. At the rate industries are expanding nowadays, the threat of climate change is becoming complex.
We are still unsure how it will impact our economy. What we know is that the nation's economic dependence on oil and gas, palm oil, rubber, manufacturing and the services sector are all under threat.
The oil and gas sector is not only facing a future where there will not be much oil left, but also the constant market pressure to shift away from fossil fuel — a business seen as one most hurting the climate.
Palm oil, on the other hand, has reached its expansion limit, as the cultivated land can only be at a maximum of 6.5 million hectares.
Natural rubber is faring much worse, with issues including low productivity, depressing prices and labour difficulties.
In manufacturing, the future is also uncertain. We may in fact slowly lose the business to more competitive countries. We need to look at new opportunities.
I believe many among the young are concerned about what the future holds for them. Even at the current time, they are facing a lack of job opportunities as well as a range of living challenges.
Already they are not able to afford decent housing. Buying a car is out of the question as the low salary makes it almost impossible to own one.
I remember in the 1970s, when I first started my career, the average salary was only around RM850 a month, much lower than the current RM2,500.
But the Mini Clubman, the cheapest car then, would only set me back by about RM6,000 and, through a loan which was easily available, I only needed to pay RM60 a month. It was manageable then.
What has also become evident from chats on social media is that the young nowadays are more concerned about the environment, especially how our economic activities influence their well-being.
A sustained environmental health is a prerequisite of a vibrant future. Including 18-year-olds in the election process will surely help shape the nation's aspirations to achieve sustainability.
We must come to grips with the fact that there is more at stake for the young than us veterans as the nation negotiates the future. They will be the ones bearing the brunt from any misjudgment.
Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Ibrahim
Fellow, Academy of Science, UCSI University