Youth movement Demi Malaysia has announced plans to hold a major youth congress, in February next year, as a focal point for youths to re-position themselves and join hands for the struggle to help shape Malaysia's future.

"The absence of the third force from Malaysian politics has caused Malaysia to be led astray from the rakyat's real aspirations.

"Fifty-nine years after Merdeka, the truth is, the economic and socio-political situation in Malaysia is still worse off," Demi Malaysia said in a statement released today.

The statement was signed by the group's spokespersons Anis Syafiqah Mohd Yusof, Adam Adli Abd Halim, Amir Abd Hadi, Chan Tsu Chong, Rashida Kamal from Sabah, Simon Seah from Sarawak and Mia Yusri, who represented the Orang Asli community.

The group noted the plunging ringgit, the rise in living costs, increase in cost of doing business, Malaysia's plummeting Global Democracy Ranking and the country’s political uncertainty, which has led to disenchantment with the present system among the youths, with millions not even registered to vote.

Lack of space for youths to voice

"Realising the critical issues like rising living costs and the lack of space for youths to voice themselves, we from Demi Malaysia will gather youths from across the country in the congress (to look for solutions)," the group said.

Dubbed the Malaysian Youth Congress 2017, or as it is known by its Malay acronym KAMM 2017, the congress is touted to be the platform for a joint-declaration, which will form the basis for youth activism in the country, hinting at harnessing youths as a political third force.

KAMM 2017 seeks to gather 1,000 delegates from youths of all backgrounds, including representatives from Sabah and Sarawak and from the indigenous communities.

As such, the group seeks to invite youths to participate in the congress and register themselves on Demi Malaysia's website.

The battle for the mindshare and support of youths is an ongoing battle between Malaysia's ruling coalition and the opposition pact, as the youths will soon dominate the Malaysian electorate.

The Demi Malaysia initiative seems to be a counterfoil to the Malaysian Youth Parliament, which is backed by the federal government and meets annually. This movement is largely dominated by scions of prominent BN-linked political families and youths friendly to the powers that be.

While claiming to be non-partisan, Demi Malaysia is seen to be made up of student activists who are opposed to the ruling BN-led government.

Both sides of the political divide in the country are very keen on harnessing the support, and the votes, of youths.