KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — The glaring difference in the appeal of PAS and DAP among young and old Facebook users suggests that the break-up between the two parties could damage each other in ways not immediately apparent.
According to a census of Malaysian political interest on Facebook by social media researcher Politweet, the online draw of both parties also differed from what conventional wisdom might dictate.
While the typical supporter of religiously conservative PAS is often portrayed as skullcap-wearing clerics, Politweet’s study found the Islamist party to command the most interest among the 13-20 age group, a domination that it shares with rival and occasional suitor Umno.
The particular age group is also where DAP is weakest of the major local political parties, holding just under 34 per cent of those interested in the federal opposition, putting it behind PKR with its 39 per cent.
“When it comes to youth, PAS is the Opposition’s biggest contributor. 54 per cent of youth interested in the Opposition are interested in PAS.
“Without changes in DAP’s messaging, they may lose out to PAS in the 21-30 year old segment as these youth become potential voters in the next few years,” Politweet noted.
Umno showed a grip on youths similar to PAS, with about 63 per cent of those aged between 13 and 20 years who were interested in Barisan Nasional (BN) being drawn to Umno.
The next general election is due to be held by 2018. The minimum voting age in Malaysia is 21 years old.
The overall Facebook population in Malaysia is 18 million, of which 14 million are considered “potential voters” by virtue of being over 21 years old. From the 14 million, 7.8 million were politically inclined.
Interestingly, despite what its dominant social media presence and savvy image among the federal opposition parties would suggest, DAP’s audience on Facebook demonstrates demographics more usually aligned with conservative parties.
Of the four major political parties measured — Umno, PAS, PKR and DAP — the last party enjoyed the least amount of interest in the youngest age group.
Interest for DAP grew as the audience aged, rising steadily from the 21-30 group before peaking at the oldest category, those above 50 years of age.
Paradoxically, interest in PAS waned progressively with age, with the Islamist party’s audience declining in an inverse manner to DAP’s, hitting the lowest in the 50+ age category.
“DAP draws more interest from older users than young users. Almost one-third of their audience comes from users aged 41 years and above.
“PAS and Umno draw the largest share of interest from 13-20 year olds in their respective coalitions. This points to DAP’s stronger appeal with older users and PAS’ stronger appeal with young users,” Politweet said.
PKR, the other major federal opposition party, commanded a steady audience until among the 13-20 to the 31-40 group that then falls off and plateaus at levels comparable to PAS.
The three-party Pakatan Rakyat alliance comprising PKR, DAP and PAS was thrown into a state of uncertainty recently after the Islamist party decided during its June 6 muktamar to cut ties with the DAP for the latter’s rejection of its hudud ambitions.
The decision later led to the DAP declaring PR’s death as a coalition.
PKR and DAP are in the midst of forming a new opposition pact, but both are now in disagreement over PAS’s presence.
PKR insists that PAS must be allowed to join for the pact to be a viable contender to BN’s rule, while DAP is adamant that the Islamist party is now a political rival after it threatened to contest the secular party’s seats in the next general election.
