Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff said senior leaders should address this issue during the coalition’s inaugural national convention in Shah Alam tomorrow.

“Pakatan leaders should present themselves as pro-active, progressive and prepared to give young talents a chance to join in the political decision-making process, he said.

“Tomorrow’s convention is the ideal platform for the coalition to portray this.”

For instance, Yusmadi said Pakatan could show how it is be able to provide opportunities for youth to become top politicians, activists, businessmen or whichever field they desire to excel in and contribute to nation-building .

He said that young voters were the instruments of change in last year’s general election and it was only natural to embrace more young talent into Pakatan’s fold.

“Without young talents, Pakatan cannot possibly put up a youthful front. It is imperative to attract dynamic, talented and progressive minded leaders.

“Pakatan needs to show publicly that it is proactive in moving away from current conventional youth policy of Barisan Nasional, designed by Umno,” said Yusmadi.

He said the BN/Umno youth policy is only used to fish for votes and make them yes-men for senior leaders.

“Umno and BN patronage politics is more about the money men making decisions on the behalf of everybody.

“Pakatan shall not emulate it,” insisted Yusmadi, the PKR national youth exco in charge of international affairs.

Old school thinking must be discarded

Pakatan must show that the coalition is prepared to depart from old school thinking and bring in fresh young talent to effect changes in the political landscape.

He said today’s youth were no longer keen to be bystanders and just be part of patronage politics espoused by Umno and BN.

He said they wanted to be part of the political decision-making process to decide the present and future direction of the country.

“Pakatan should also address decisively the grouses among minorities such as Indians, Sabah and Sarawak ethnic groups against the coalition,” said Yusmadi.

“They should unveil the coalition’s strategy to forge close ties with minority groups such as Hindraf and civil rights movements in Sabah and Sarawak, and labour organisations.”

“Addressing issues pertaining minority and workers’ interests and rights is vital if Pakatan wants to be a hybrid organisation,” said Yusmadi, the former Penang youth chief.