Perkembangan Politik Era Malaysia Baharu: Pandangan Eksklusif Belia Terpelajar (Political Development in New Malaysia Era: An Exclusive View of Educated Youth)

Abstract

Artikel ini memfokuskan perbincangan tentang pandangan golongan belia terpelajar terhadap perkembangan politik di Malaysia khususnya dalam era Malaysia Baharu hari ini. Golongan belia terpelajar adalah generasi pewaris negara pada masa hadapan. Mereka bukan sahaja menjadi pemangkin pembinaan negara dan bangsa, tetapi mereka juga adalah kumpulan yang bakal mencorakkan hala tuju politik dan kepimpinan negara di masa depan. Sementara itu, era Malaysia Baharu telah ditonjolkan selepas berlakunya pertukaran kerajaan daripada kepimpinan Barisan Nasional yang menerajui pemerintahan negara semenjak kemerdekaan negara kepada kerajaan baru Pakatan Harapan pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 lalu. Malaysia Baharu dikatakan membawa ‘nafas baru’ angin perubahan dalam segenap aspek kehidupan merangkumi hal ehwal politik, pembangunan ekonomi dan pemerkasaan sosiobudaya ke arah yang lebih baik berbanding dengan era sebelumnya. Sehubungan dengan itu, satu kajian khusus telah dilaksanakan dalam kalangan belia terpelajar iaitu mahasiswa universiti awam di Semenanjung Malaysia yang bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pandangan mereka terhadap perkembangan politik yang berlaku dalam negara ini. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah Teknik Berkumpulan Nominal (NGT), Perbincangan Kumpulan Berfokus (FGD) dan kaedah tinjauan menggunakan borang soal selidik. Borang soal selidik diedarkan kepada 800 orang responden belia terpelajar pelbagai etnik. Hasil kajian menunjukkan wujud variasi pandangan berdasarkan kumpulan etnik terhadap perkembangan politik semasa. Golongan belia terpelajar etnik Melayu didapati lebih objektif dalam mengemukakan pandangan mereka, manakala golongan belia terpelajar etnik Cina dan India pula didapati lebih positif dalam menunjukkan sokongan terhadap pemerintahan di era Malaysia Baharu ini.

Kata kunci: Belia terpelajar; mahasiswa; Malaysia baharu; perkembangan politik; universiti awam

 Abstract

This article focuses on the views of educated youth group on political developments in Malaysia, especially in today's New Malaysia era. The educated youth is the future generations of the nation. They are not only the catalyst for nation building, but they are also the groups who will shape the future political direction and leadership of the nation. Meanwhile, the New Malaysia era has been highlighted after the changing of government from the Barisan Nasional leadership, that led the country since independence, to the new government, which is Pakatan Harapan in the 14th General Election. New Malaysia era is said to bring a 'fresh breath' of changes in all aspects of life, including a betterment political affairs, economic development and social empowerment. In this regards, a specific study was conducted among educated youth from public university students in Peninsular Malaysia which aimed to identify their views on current political developments in the country. This study employs Nominal Group Technique (NGT), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) as well as survey method by using questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to 800 respondents from educated youths of various ethnic groups. The findings reveal that there is a variety of views, based on ethnic groups, on political developments. The Malay educated youth groups are more objective in their views, whereas the Chinese and Indian educated youth groups were found to be more positive in showing their support to the government in this New Malaysia era.

Keywords: Educated youth; students; new Malaysia; political development; public university