Politicians from both coalitions have acknowledged that Malaysian politics is becoming non-racial, with young voters making a difference in the coming general election.
PAS central committee member Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said young voters have a different interpretation of politics and by making up 21.69% of the total voters, their viewpoint will shape the country's future.
"From our survey, we found that 39% of these voters prefer to identify themselves first and foremost as Malaysian rather than Malay, Chinese or Indian," he told a panel discussion today.
Mujahid also said PAS is non-racial as it has a PAS Supporters Congress made up of non-Muslim members and will field non-Muslim candidates in elections.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also acknowledged that race will not be the determining factor in the future, saying the 13th general election will be the last national polls where race still matters.
"By the 14th general election, be it for Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, race politics will not matter anymore," he said at a forum on the three key issues that will determine the outcome of the 13th general election organised by the Centre for Public Policy Studies.
He said the rise of new politics will allow more bipartisanship in Parliament, where issues will be discussed based on needs instead of race.
DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong said this election will show if support for parties can cut across the ethnic divide, with non-Malays supporting PAS or Malays supporting DAP.
MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said Umno and MCA have been non-racial, as shown by the intention to place Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman in Gelang Patah, a Chinese-majority seat.
"However, we constantly face criticism when making these moves. When we contest in Malay-majority areas, we're accused of hiding under their sarong," he said.
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