KUALA LUMPUR – PAS needs to further intensify its efforts to woo more youths to support the party and Perikatan Nasional (PN) by catering to their interests on social media and outdoor activities, says party’s Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden.
Delivering his winding-up speech at PAS’s 70th Annual Muktamar in Temerloh, Pahang, Afnan said that the youth are looking for political parties that can offer solutions for the problems that they are facing such as the high cost of living.
He also said that the group – where a majority backed PAS and PN in previous elections – wants to see how PAS-led governments in Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu and Kelantan, as well as a federal government where they may be a part of in the future, can resolve their problems.
Afnan, who is also Alor Star MP said that while the youths are backing PAS and PN, they are not party members and could change their views anytime. Therefore, the party must reach out to them and cater to their interests.
“The youths consist of various segments. Some frequently visit mosques and some hang out on the streets with motorcycles. We (should) engage them with (activities related to) motorcycles.
“There are those who love archery and participate in debates, so we engage them with archery and debating as well.
“They are those who love TikTok. Therefore, we engage them with live TikTok sessions. For those who love singing, we do so too as long as we do it in compliance with shariah.
“The youth love to participate in sports. Therefore, we engage them in sports as well,” said the PAS leader in his speech.
Afnan also reminded party members that the party could not afford to be picky on the kind of youths it wants to reach out to as it needs support from all segments of society to take over Putrajaya in the future.
“We are moving backwards by imposing restrictions at the time when we are being accepted by the majority of the youths out there,” he added.
He also reminded that many political parties out there are wooing the group and referred to DAP, whose Perak chapter is offering RM1,000 in higher education assistance for children of party members. – September 15, 2024