With six in 10 voters aged below 40, youth may prove decisive
By
Lynn Lee, Indonesia Correspondent
PKB's Nathania Regina, 21, (in grey), the youngest candidate standing for election, on the campaign trail. She is one of a growing number of young people taking a stab at politics. -- PHOTOS: COURTESY OF NATHANIA REGINA
JAKARTA - MS Nathania Regina is only 21 years old, but her youth is not stopping her from vying for a place in Indonesia's 560-seat Parliament next Thursday.
It's a chance
OLDER is not necessarily better when it comes to politicians, a survey has found.
The Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) asked 2,000 people in January who they would vote for, between a candidate below the age of 45 and another who is older. Seven in 10 either said they would elect the younger candidate or that age was not an issue. Fewer than three would choose the older candidate.
The candidate from the National Awakening Party (PKB), who is seeking to represent the Riau province, is the youngest among some 11,200 campaigning in the general election.
The graduate of Balestier Hill Secondary School, who spent four years studying in Singapore, is the daughter of PKB treasurer, Heru Juwono, who helped her apply for her candidacy.
'People see me as a fresh face, not contaminated by corruption, so I'm ready to try my best,' said the hospitality studies graduate from University Centre 'Cesar Ritz', a Swiss hotel school.
Ms Nathania is one of a growing number of young people taking a stab at politics, as the political space here opens up.
Indonesians have to be at least 21 years old to stand for election. The voting age is 17.
Last month, the national daily Kompas said that around seven in 10 candidates are between the ages of 21 and 50, with most of them in their 30s and 40s.
Political analyst Sunny Tanuwidjaja said the figure was unprecedented. Said the researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies: 'This idea, that people in their 20s and 30s are needed to replace existing politicians, is a new phenomenon. Previously, we would just hear of new faces in their 40s.'
Many of the younger faces will no doubt be reaching out to their peers, who for the first time in Indonesia's history may turn out to be decisive in the poll.
The Central Statistics Agency has reported that 60 per cent of the 171 million registered voters are between 20 and 40 years old.
Newbies cite dissatisfaction with current policies as one reason why they are entering politics. One of them is Mr Irlan Ismail, 33, from the small Ulema National Awakening Party (PKNU). The candidate from West Java, who has a master's degree in economic law from the University of Indonesia, has plans for a micro-financing scheme that will allow his constituents to run small businesses.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.
