KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — PAS Youth is pushing for a third of the 73 Sabah state assembly seats for its wing to contest in the upcoming state election, Utusan Malaysia reported today.
Its chief, Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, said Sabah should not be seen as an “add-on” but as a major responsibility to serve the people, with young candidates signalling the desire to build a new politics that is clean, solution-driven and people-centred.
He stressed that the Sabah election could not be taken lightly, describing it as a strategic battleground that will help shape Malaysia’s political direction.
“If we succeed in winning the hearts of the people of Sabah, we are opening a new chapter in Malaysian politics. That is why PAS Youth is demanding that at least one-third of the candidates in the Sabah election are young. This is not just about numbers, but a symbol of our faith in the youth.
“Their presence is not just to heat up the campaign, but a form of political training that will nurture the leaders of tomorrow. Sabah’s youth must be given the space to lead boldly, because the state’s future rests on their shoulders,” he said, according to the national daily.
Afnan, who is also the MP for Alor Setar, made the remarks in his keynote address at the 66th PAS Youth Muktamar at the Kedah PAS Complex in Alor Setar today.
He described Sabah as a strategic arena, noting that while the state is rich in resources and natural beauty, it lags behind in development and opportunities.
“Look at the statistics: Sabah is among the richest states in natural resources — palm oil, oil, gas and even abundant seafood. Yet its people remain mired in poverty.
“Why are its basic infrastructure still lagging? Why are there still homes without electricity, water supply disruptions, rundown schools and hospitals short of doctors?” he asked.
He added that what was most disheartening was the harsh reality faced by Sabah’s youth, compared with their peers in Peninsular Malaysia.
Many, he said, were forced to migrate because of limited job opportunities, dropped out of education due to poverty and lost confidence after decades of neglect by the federal government, Utusan Malaysia reported.
