KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is facing an aging crisis with a severe shortage of young members, especially those aged between 18 and 30, says MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“I must admit that MCA is getting old. There are more senior members than young ones.

“I hope to find more talent among the new members.

“Young party members aged between 18 and 30 are becoming increasingly rare, but for a political party, you must start from here. Especially after 2018, all political parties are vying for the support of young voters,” he said.

The Parliament amended laws to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 in 2019, adding 5.8 million new voters with the total number of eligible voters increased to 21.02 million.

Wee made these remarks in a ceremony organized by the MCA Federal Territories to welcome new members joining the party.

He said MCA realized the power of young voters in the general elections in 2022. Even though Barisan Nasional won 75 percent of the seats in the 2021 Melaka state election, the situation turned dramatically in just one year.

“We can’t take young voters for granted. They may support you today, but if you deceive them even once, they can immediately turn against you,” he said, adding that nowadays young people have access to a wide variety of information.

To win their votes, MCA must be practical and honest, he said.

To ensure sustainability, Wee said MCA must proactively reach out to the younger generation, especially those who have just completed SPM and about to pursue STPM or A-level as they are eligible to vote.

“We must approach them, explain our vision, understand their ideals, and help them resolve issues related to employment and further education,” he said.

For a long time, MCA has been providing counseling and assistance to students who are in a dilemma over options to further their studies.

Wee said MCA would continue to expand its support by strengthening ties with TAR UMT (Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology) and UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman).