Stick to your guns, it will pay off, young activists told

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PETALING JAYA: Youth-led movements like #Lawan, Hartal Doktor Kontrak and Bendera Hitam are getting support from their older brethren, with veteran activists from the Reformasi era encouraging them to stick to their guns and prepare for resistance from the authorities.

In the last few days, youth leaders have been called up by police for their roles in Sunday’s #Lawan demonstration, held to protest the government’s failure in managing the health and economic crises.

A few weeks earlier, junior doctors staged a walkout and were threatened with disciplinary action over the protest, which came after their demands for better career prospects and perks were not addressed.

Zahir Hassan, who began his life as an activist after then-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was sacked in 1998, warned that maintaining the stamina to continue the fight for change could be difficult, adding that he had seen many lose their mettle.

“You must have strong principles and hold onto your ideals,” he said. “Without these, you lose your energy and drive. I’ve seen people get distracted and fall short.”


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