Kuala lumpur: Twelve political parties have been established within universities as part of the Youth Parliament system, a platform designed to introduce the proportional representation (PR) system to nurture national youth leaders. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul explained that this initiative aims to test the effectiveness of the PR system as a viable alternative to the current first-past-the-post system. In the PR system, political contests focus on parties and their manifestos, allowing victorious parties to select the best candidates to represent the public.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari elaborated on the workings of the PR system during his appearance on Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara, in an episode titled 'Democracy School: Parliament Shapes the Future Generation of Leaders.' He noted that political parties are formed on campuses, where they campaign and, upon winning, select candidates to serve as Members of Parliament. The system aims to enhance inclusivity in Parliament, ensuring participation from women, minorities, and representatives from Sabah and Sarawak.

The initiative also involves collaboration with the National Registration Department to facilitate automatic voter registration for individuals aged 18 to 30. Voting will be conducted online, with access expected to be available from March. This approach is intended to provide youth with practical exposure to the PR system, enabling them to evaluate its effectiveness prior to influencing the future direction of the country's democracy.

The Youth Parliament represents a significant effort to broaden youth engagement in democratic processes, offering early exposure to parliamentary procedures and training youth to present ideas and proposals in a structured and responsible manner. This initiative aligns with efforts to reinforce democratic culture and cultivate a mature future generation of leaders.