KITA Discourse Series 7/2023: The Effects of Political Chaos and Social Media towards Young Voters’ Voting Decision: A Case Study of Semenyih Constituency

THE EFFECTS OF POLITICAL CHAOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA TOWARDS YOUNG VOTERS’ VOTING DECISION: A CASE STUDY OF SEMENYIH CONSTITUENCY
By
Mohd. Khairuddin Othman
Former Selangor State Exco & PhD Candidate, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)

ABSTRACT

This research is an attempt to examine how political chaos has been significantly applicable to the voter’s intention and behaviour by examining Malaysian political phenomenon. Chaotic situation may be useful for the politicians and policy makers to design appropriate actions and counter measures. Political parties may gain political advantages from the chaotic situations, while others have miscalculated the chaos situation. The chaotic phenomena have triggered the emotion and behaviour of the young voters, making them to be more independent, alert, cautious and careful when making a voting decision. This pre-election study explores and explains the effects of political chaos on young voters’ intention and behaviour in Semenyih State Constituency of Selangor. Expected samples of this study were 380 respondents and survey was used, while all the data were collected and examined. This study has developed a structural equation model to test the relationship constructed in this study. Using PLS-SEM 4.0, this study formed low order constructs consisting of racial complexity, political disorder, economic uncertainty and leaders’ chaotic images, against the high order construct of political chaos. Subsequently, a voter’s intention was tested through established low order constructs of attitude, subjective norms and behavioural control, and against the high order construct of voters’ intention. Similarly, the voters’ behaviour was also being examined using low order construct of candidate images, current issues, situational factors and epistemic value, and against the high order construct of voters’ behaviour. The Disjoint Two-Stage Approach test was used to validate both the low order and the high order constructs. All of the constructs have been tested against a dependent variable, a voting decision. The Structural Measurement showed that political chaos has significant impact on voters’ intention and behaviour but has no significant effect on a direct voting decision. In addition, social media construct has been included to see the mediator effect on the structure. It was found no mediating effect between the political chaos and voting decision, as well as between intention and voting decision. However, it has a partial role between behaviour and voting decision. Similarly, chaos strategy plays no moderating role between behaviour– voting decision and intention-voting decision.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE

Mohd Khairuddin Othman obtained Diploma in Business Studies from Institut Teknologi MARA (ITM) in 1993 before working in Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Behad. He pursued with Diploma in Law from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in 1998, Bachelor of Law (Hons) from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in 2000 and Diploma in Administration & Islamic Judiciary from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2003. He was admitted to the Malaysian Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor in 2002, by the High Court of Malaya, and practised law until 2018. He contested in five General Election since 2004 and became a member of a Selangor State Legislative for two consecutive terms i.e., from 2013 – 2018 and 2018 – 2023, for Paya Jaras Constituency. Immdiately after the 14th General Election, he was appointed as a Deputy Speaker to the Selangor State Legislative, before being appointed to Selangor State Exco (Youth, Sports and Human Capital) in 2018 until 2023. During his excoship, he obtained Master of Art in Media and Information Warfare Studies from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in 2021, and currently completing his PhD from the same university.

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME

Date: 15 September 2023 (Friday)
Time: 9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. (GMT +8)
Venue: KITA Meeting Room, 4th Floor, Kolej Keris Mas main building, UKM Bangi campus, Selangor
Platform: Zoom & KITA Facebook page (links below)

9.00 a.m.: Introduction by Moderator
9.10 a.m.: Seminar by Mr. Mohd Khairuddin Othman
10.00 a.m. Q & A Session
10.30 a.m.: Closing

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