Notwithstanding the students' agitations, they may carry little actual weight in the elections. The voting age in Malaysia is 21, which rules out most students. And those who are eligible may not get the chance to vote in the next polls. The elections commission has said that some 650,000 new applications may not get processed in time if snap elections are called by September. But even if most students are unable to vote, they may still be able to indirectly influence the electorate.
Many people therefore are willing to accept their arguments.
Indeed, university students have traditionally been highly regarded in Malaysian society, especially in the countryside. There are very few from rural areas who get into university, and parents and other family members tend to listen to the undergraduates. Barisan is viewing the campus situation with concern. The United Malays National Organization, the dominant party in the coalition, has traditionally represented the Malay-Muslim mainstream. Barisan is now actively seeking to win the hearts of the youth.