Looking forward

Founder of Anak Muda Harapan Malaysia and the former president of University Malaya Student Union, Fahmi Zainol says Malaysia has been having problems in terms of its political decision and policies.

“The structural approach in Malaysia does not provide enough room for good policies. Since the independence, we have been using a top-down approach when it comes to making decisions. The problem with this is that people at the top usually do not see what is happening at the bottom.

“In financial matters, ministers fail to see the people’s struggle because they earn a lot of benefits as top government officials, while the rakyat live a paycheck to paycheck existence … their frustrations are not being heard at the top,” he says.

Fahmi says decisions are supposed to be made in the interest of the people, and therefore what is needed is a bottom-up approach. Leaders have to listen to what the people have to say. Only by doing this can the right decisions be made.

Agent of change

He says young Malaysians should play a greater role as the driving force for a better Malaysia. This, he says, can be achieved if youths become the drivers of change.

In doing this, they should pursue and gain knowledge, which will help them shape society through its application.

Young Malaysians should see themselves as agents of change, where their roles are vital in initiating the changes they desire, which may vary from education to policy making.

“We should empower young Malaysians with the discipline to pursue knowledge. Only through knowledge we can project a more positive image of the country,” he adds.

He stressed that only through education will young Malaysians able to shape a better society. One day, the young generations are going to be leaders, therefore it is necessary to empower them with knowledge.

Education institution

As a former president of Universiti Malaya Student Union, Fahmi sees a lot of weaknesses in Malaysian tertiary education institutions. Universities and colleges are not given the freedom in many forms.

“Students are prohibited from voicing out their opinions especially in politics and the institutions themselves cannot stand on its own,” he says.

Education institutions also he says, practice cultures that are very contrary to the principle of knowledge.

Towards benevolent state

As a young Malaysian, Fahmi emphasises on the call for a benevolent state in the next five to ten years.

“What I mean by benevolent state is that the needs of the people are to be fulfilled by our government’s policies,” he says.

Fahmi clarifies that Malaysia is not lacking much in term of development. However Malaysia is very mediocre when it comes to social benefits.

He says, Malaysia still lacks good social policies. However, having such policies in the future is far from impossible.