Election Of Election Candidates: Muslim Youth’s Knowledge And Practices

Pemilihan Calon Pilihan Raya: Pengetahuan Dan Amalan Belia Muslim

Abstract

The diversity of party manifestos in elections, the presence of both Muslim and non-Muslim candidates, are among the factors that influence young people in making their voting decisions during elections. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Muslim youth in choosing election candidates. Content analysis and survey research using a questionnaire instrument were employed in this study. A simple random sample of 36 Muslim youths aged between 21 and 30 years was selected. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 and analyzed descriptively. The reliability of Cronbach’s Alpha for the questionnaire items on knowledge is 0.865, and for the practice questions is 0.770, which is high. The study found that the level of knowledge of the youth regarding the characteristics of leaders according to Islam is high with a minimum value of 3.558, except for the item “a leader must have perfect bodily limbs and senses” with a moderate minimum value of 3.28. The youth are also interested in being informed about the political development in Malaysia, 77.8%. However, 77.8% they do not show interest in being involved or committed to any political party. They also vote for candidates based on their knowledge and the candidates’ ability to fulfill their interest without considering religion.

Abstrak
Kepelbagaian menifesto parti dalam pilihan raya, kewujudan calon Muslim dan non-Muslim merupakan antara faktor yang mempengaruhi belia dalam membuat keputusan undian dalam pilihan raya. Maka, kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pengetahuan dan amalan belia Muslim dalam memilih calon pilihan raya. Kaedah analisis kandungan dan kajian tinjauan dengan menggunakan instrumen soal selidik digunakan di dalam kajian ini. Sampel rawak mudah yang terdiri daripada 36 orang belia Muslim berusia 21 tahun sehingga 30 tahun dipilih. Data-data dianalisis menggunakan Program Sistem Statistik Pukal Sains Sosial (Statistical Package for Scocial Science/ SPSS versi 28) dan data dianalisis secara deskriptif.  Kebolehpercayaan Alpha Cronbach bagi item borang kaji selidik soalan pengetahuan iaitu 0.865 dan soalan amalan 0.770 adalah tinggi. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa tahap pengetahuan golongan belia terhadap ciri-ciri pemimpin menurut Islam adalah tinggi dengan nilai min 3.558 kecuali pada item seorang pemimpin mestilah orang yang sempurna anggota tubuh dan pancaindera dengan nilai min sederhana 3.28. Belia juga berminat mengambil tahu tentang perkembangan politik yang berlaku di Malaysia 77.8%. Namun, 77.8% belia tidak menunjukkan minat untuk terlibat dan terikat dengan mana-mana parti politik. Mereka juga mengundi calon berdasarkan pengetahuan dan calon yang memenuhi kepentingan tanpa mengira agama.