It’s tough for young leaders in Malaysia

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PETALING JAYA: Austria’s Sebastian Kurz became the youngest head of government in the world at 31 in 2017. New Zealand’s Jacinda Arden was sworn in as prime minister when she was 37, also in 2017. Finalnd’s Sanna Marin took office at the age of 34 in 2019.

The trend in recent years of young people coming into power suggests that voters in many countries are placing personal character above experience when they elect their heads of government, but analysts say it would be hard to see such a leaning in contemporary Malaysia.

Speaking to FMT, Syed Arabi Idid of the International Islamic University Malaysia said political parties in the country still generally adhered to strict hierarchies, often reserving top posts to older members.

He said he subscribed to the belief that it is not always necessary for a politically experienced person to hold the top post in a country.


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