PKR's five rising stars: A commitment towards reform and change by 2021

KEADILAN's Five Rising Stars: A Commitment Towards Reform and Change by 2021

In 2015, the United Kingdom elected its youngest Member of Parliament since the 17th century, 21-year old Mhairi Black. Her maiden speech in the UK Parliament garnered the attention of more than 10 million people worldwide and the praise of many fellow Members of Parliament.

Salleh Shawkatali (centre) and two supporters posing with his posters

Back in Malaysia, Barisan Nasional has always criticised the young opposition candidates, citing inexperience, forgetting that the youth are the future leaders of our country. At KEADILAN, we believe that it is imperative to support the youth in their endeavours to strengthen their voice for Malaysians. In face of the 11th Sarawak elections on 7 May, KEADILAN is fielding numerous young, promising candidates.

Abdul Raafidin Majadi, a 32-year old of Melanau descent is representing the party at N55 DUN Nangka. Formerly a Government Legal Officer at the High Court of Miri and the High Court of Kuching, Abdul Raafidin is now a full-fledged civil lawyer and Syariah practitioner in Islamic law. Abdul Raafidin calls for the people of Sarawak to vote with integrity and to choose wisely for a competent leader.

Athina Klaywa Sim makes Malaysian history as she becomes the first Bidayuh woman to run for state elections in Sarawak. Running for N18 DUN Serembu, the 27-year old lawyer at Baru Bian Advocates And Solicitors criticizes BN for its disappointing track record of not having fielded a single Bidayuh lady for state elections. She concedes to being a young face in Malaysian politics, but cautions that “a novice but sincere politician, is far better than an experienced but dishonest one.”

At N20 DUN Tarat, 34-year old Musa Anak Ngog has stepped up as KEADILAN’s candidate. Although bearing a full-time job as an IT Engineer, Musa has remained an ardent supporter of the party’s efforts as the KEADILAN Coordinator at Tarat. Musa is especially concerned towards the marginalised indigenous people of East Malaysia, publishing a book titled “The Lost Aborigine in His Own Country Home" to narrate the neglected history of the Dayak-Bidayuh. For Tarat, he aspires to reform education to put an end to illiteracy and poverty.

As AMK Malaysia’s Environmental Bureau Chief, Jamilah Baharuddin has always been a budding youth leader at KEADILAN. In three days time, she will be running for the Sarawak state assembly at N25 Simunjan. Currently 30-years old, she is a lawyer for Baru Bian Advocates and Solicitors.

Mohamed Salleh Shawkatali, 34 years old, will be standing as the KEADILAN candidate for N8 DUN Satok. He is an entrepreneur passionate about matters pertaining the youth. Currently, he is the Chairman of local NGO, the Association of Sarawak Youths. Salleh has unveiled a five-point manifesto outlining his plans for Satok, inclusive of many entrepreneurship programmes to boost the local economy and free tuition programmes to improve education quality.

Just as how young Mhairi Black has drawn the attention of the UK Parliament to the concerns of the Scottish, I believe these young leaders of KEADILAN will play a pivotal role in surfacing the concerns of the Sarawakian population, in a bid to better their lives.

On 7 May, these rising stars in Sarawak's political landscape will make their first bid for public office. Each of them continues to fight the good fight and campaign tireless, against forces that possess Goliathan resources. But what these young politicians have is a deep passion and commitment to reforms and the future of Sarawak. It is young Sarawakians like these five who hold the key not only to the future of PKR Sarawak, but also to the fate of Sarawak in the next great battle of 2021.