GE13: The battle starts in the cyber world
The cyber space will be a key battlefield in the coming elections, but what say its community?
Hence, with some 80% of the 3.75 million new voters aged below 40 not counting the “experienced” under 40-voters out of the other 10 million over registered voters in the country it is no surprise that politicians from both divides are doing all they can to woo them.
Hariati Azizan, The Star
THE frenzy matched that of a rock gig or a k-pop concert depending on one’s taste with the “fans” and “stars” moving and cheering in unison to the same beat.
The group of social media volunteers sitting near me squealed and giggled with equal excitement whenever a youth leader or an invited local celebrity guest took the podium at the recent Barisan Nasional Youth Cyber Activists Gathering. Self-professed social media addict Zue in a Yuna-inspired blue headscarf shares that she has not done any cyber political activism yet but followed her friends to the gathering to check out the scene.
“I’m glad I signed up. Like what YB Khairy (Jamaluddin) said, I am here because I believe in the party and I think we can help them win the elections,” says the 26-year-old who follows PM Najib Tun Razak and the Barisan youth leader on Twitter.
What issues concern her, then?
“The economy and jobs. Prices of things and houses. Safety, crime, freedom to practise my religion… Peace, stability and our independence as a country,” she rattles on.
It is no exaggeration to say that the political landscape has changed since the 2008 general election. The political enthusiasm and concern for public issues of today’s young people seem to have grown somewhat since GE12.
A survey by a non-profit organisation Asia Foundation on The Youth Factor: 2012 Survey of Malaysian Youth Opinion, found that a majority of young Malaysians felt that they could effect change in the country. A whopping 69% believe that they have at least a little influence over the government. And unlike the common notion of the revolutionary youth, many do believe in the institutions, with over 80% stating their confidence in the Prime Minister and civil administration.
Hence, with some 80% of the 3.75 million new voters aged below 40 not counting the “experienced” under 40-voters out of the other 10 million over registered voters in the country it is no surprise that politicians from both divides are doing all they can to woo them.
And with this cohort being the most wired, it is no bombshell that the cyber space has emerged as a key battlefield in GE13.
Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, chairperson of Umno Youth’s new media unit, pertinently observes this.
“It cannot be denied that the youths will use the social media only for what they are interested in. But come election season, even those who are not interested in politics will be drawn to political newsbites and want to keep up with the developments in the country’s political scene,” he says.
A spirited cyber activist who only wanted to be known as Nabil agrees, declaring he is volunteering to fight for Barisan in the cyber world for his children’s future.
“We cannot let the Opposition take over and destroy the country. So, like what the PM said, we have to defeat them on their turf the social media,” he says.
He believes that there has also been a shift in “influence” when it comes to polling.
“In the past, young people voted according to their parents’ political beliefs. Today, I think parents are influenced by their children when they go out and vote.
“For example, my parents and most of my friends’ parents actually ask us about the latest political buzz on our Facebook and Twitter,” he shares, adding that is what the Barisan cyber troopers are also rallied to do to spread the truth against the “lies” spread by the opposition not just online but also offline.
Still, not all young people are swayed by the political onslaught in the web.
A postgraduate student who only wants to be known as Jefri says there is too much “noise” and it is making him switch off.
“I am going to decide after I hear the candidates speak at the ceramah and see them myself,” he says.
Social marketing expert Anas Zubedy feels that the political noise conceals the reality that the average young person is unaware of politics and the political leaders.
Anas, who conducted his own telephone survey, had written on his blog that his findings convinced him that the “Internet population” would not significantly affect the outcome of the coming elections.
“There are too many distractions out there and politicians are not seen as cool…as a consequence, the youth just don’t have that drive to fully use the Internet to catch up on current affairs, politics in particular,” he concluded.
Social media observer G. Yeoh also thinks that the impact of the social media will not be as significant as expected.
“I don’t think the majority of voters in Malaysia have access to social media. The urban voters yes, but not the non-urban voters. It’s simplistic to claim that just because it’s the first’ time that this tool is being used and it’s new’. I have seen in the last GE social media being used in various ways by young Malaysians wanting to make a difference, on their own without binding themselves to any political faction.”
Yeoh observes that while younger politicians are definitely revving up their presence on social media, not all politicians are using it to their advantage, which is a shame as it is good as a direct connection to their constituents.
“It really allows for people to get in touch with them directly. It’s nice to be able to tweet with your MP because too often they are placed up on the pedestal. It’s nice to know that politicians are human too.”
Ironically, he points out, that is the key the human touch.
He says it does not work when the politicians falsely inflate the number of followers, get their assistants to tweet for them or worse, not tweet at all.
That is why politicians like Khairy Jamaluddin, Tony Pua, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Nurul Izzah and Saifuddin Abdullah have many followers, he says.
“They tweet themselves and the tweets are real. And sometimes they make mistakes too. People can tell when another person is real. People don’t follow each other on Twitter or Facebook just so they can consume the same old messages churned out by strategists.”
Crucially, it should not be used for trolling their critics.
“Social media is a tool of communication, not a tool to hide behind and to attack your imagined enemies.”
For many of his peers, the number of followers or likes is just that, a number.
As a young voter, Yeoh says, he expects his leader to be honest and real.
“It’s not a popularity contest. They can claim to have millions of followers or likes on Facebook all they want, but without interaction, those are just numbers.”
In contrast, digital culture commentator Niki Cheong feels that the numbers do matter.
“It is embarrassing for a senior politician to have, say, only 3,000 followers on Twitter. It gives a perception that you are not relevant.”
Politicians need to find what works for them, he says, and to “just do it!” on their social media accounts.
“You need to be constantly engaging with the people.”
What many do not realise is that it is a community, so you need to be “living” in it. The easiest way is for politicians to make it a part of their lives too, not just a planned campaigning tool.
“As a politician, everything you say and do is being recorded, so why not put it out yourself. Instead of just putting your photographs and videos out, you can highlight your meetings, other programmes and activities online,” says Cheong.
Social media expert David Lian concurs.
As the 2008 elections demonstrated, he notes, social media could be used as an effective communications tool and it’s good that many politicians have become more engaged on social media.
However, he stresses, it should be a two-way communication.
“I’d challenge politicians to stop thinking of just using social media for campaigning purposes, but to genuinely engage their constituents. Social media is a fantastic platform to really get closer to the rakyat’s needs and to foster a healthy dialogue about our community’s issues today. It shouldn’t be relegated merely to another propaganda channel. If used as a one-way street, social media users are quick to turn off and tune out.”
Stresses Lian, young people today expect action and integrity from their political leaders, “I’ve seen these issues consistently highlighted by young people on social media and it would do politicians well to listen.”
