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Don't do a Brexit on M'sia, Rafizi urges young voters
Published:  Jun 25, 2016 4:42 PM
Updated: 9:07 AM

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli has urged young voters not to allow a Brexit-like situation in Malaysia.

He explained that young voters in the United Kingdom were strongly in support of the country remaining in the European Union (EU) but their turnout fell short during the referendum, leading to a Brexit, or Britain's exit, from the EU.

"In the referendum yesterday, the turnout of youths was lower compared to their elders.

"Even though they (the youths) were strongly in support of remaining in the EU, older voters who had a stronger turnout, were the deciding factor.

"It is now too late for the youths in the UK. I hope the same situation will not happen to the youths of Malaysia, if they understand the phenomenon in the UK," he said in a statement today.

He pointed out that those under 24 years in age overwhelmingly wanted to stay in the EU, with 73 percent supporting this.

However, although it was the older voters who decided not to stay, Rafizi said it was the young voters who would now have to bear the burden for the longest time.

"They (youths) want UK to remain (in EU) because they will be worst hit in the current economic situation and did not want to see an economic upheaval.

"Unfortunately, they were defeated by older voters who would only bear the consequences for a shorter period of time due to their advanced age.

"Therefore, the youths will inherit a worse economy than before and they must live with the burden of a decision forced upon them by the older generation," he said.

The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections on June 18 which BN won, were plagued by a low turnout among young outstation voters.

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