Johor Polls: Gen Z Voters More Aware, Less Influenced By Family

By Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah

JOHOR BAHRU, July 7 (Bernama) -- The perception that 18-year-old voters are still politically inexperienced has been proven wrong, as Generation Z (Gen Z) voters demonstrate greater awareness through access to information at their fingertips.

The political maturity shown by first-time voters indicates that traditional influences, such as following family preferences when deciding at the ballot box, are gradually declining.

The trend also signals to political parties that relying solely on family ties or persuading parents to influence their children’s choices may no longer be an effective strategy.

For Kempas state constituency voter Emmanuel Praveen Tobias, 18, voting is an individual right that should not be influenced by anyone, including family members.

“Most young people today vote based on their own choices and preferences. The practice of following parents’ choices is becoming less common among us.

“Although I did not have the opportunity to follow the campaigns closely, I can study the candidates’ profiles through social media before making my decision,” he told Bernama.

Similarly, Mengkibol voter Nur Izzati Kamaruddin, 19, said the mindset of young people had shifted compared with previous generations that largely followed their guardians’ political choices.

The (ERT) Azizah Vocational College student said easy access to information had made young voters more independent and less receptive to traditional political narratives that offered little value to their future.

“Previously, we might have followed the candidates chosen by our parents, but not anymore. I will personally check candidates’ TikTok and Instagram accounts to assess their work before making a decision,” she said.

Meanwhile, Perling voter Ramshatul Adawiyah Rosli, 18, said the freedom to choose allowed young people to evaluate candidates based on their ideas, policies and credibility rather than popularity alone.

She said early exposure to political discussions had shaped her expectations for more progressive policies, particularly in education and student welfare.

“We want candidates who are close to the people, especially young people like us. This makes it easier for us to assess their credibility and ability to present ideas,” she said, adding that she preferred candidates who were active and energetic.

Muhammad Fitri Salpularshari, 19, from Parit Yaani, and Elysa Smau Bigat, 18, from Skudai, shared similar views, saying access to digital platforms helped young voters assess candidates’ integrity and service records.

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) senior lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences, Dr Nazreena Mohammed Yasin, said there had been a noticeable shift in the political behaviour of young and first-time voters.

She said while family influence previously played a major role in shaping political preferences, young voters today were more independent and analytical.

"Family influence has not disappeared completely, but it is no longer the deciding factor for all young voters. They are now more willing to question and compare information,” she said.

Nazreena said social media had changed the way young people engaged with politics, allowing them to follow debates, manifestos and candidates’ statements directly through platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

She said first-time voters were increasingly critical, assessing candidates based on their personality, credibility, ability to present ideas, service record and capacity to address local issues, alongside the party they represented.

However, she cautioned that the digital environment also required strong media literacy to help young people distinguish between reliable information, manipulative content and fake news.

“Overall, I see today’s young voters as more issue-oriented. They tend to evaluate candidates based on matters that directly affect their lives, such as employment opportunities, education, cost of living and the policies offered by political parties,” she said.

The state election sees 172 candidates contesting 56 seats, with polling day set for July 11 while early voting is being held today.

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor.

Johor Polls: Gen Z Voters More Aware, Less Influenced By Family

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