SHAH ALAM - Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) Youths said it will become a platform to represent the voices of young Malays in the country in addressing their struggles especially in aspects of economy, unemployment and education.
GTA youth secretariat spokesperson Dr Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi said the movement will also uplift the spirit of the young Malays in bringing changes to the nation.
"When we are talking about defending our own beliefs and race, we could not depend on other races to do it or to tell the Malays that they need to avoid corruption and protect the nation.
"So, they need a platform to actually defend them and their religion (Islam) as a young Malay and GTA youths will also take into account the issues surrounding the youths in Malaysia,” she said during a press conference.
She added that the movement was aware of the issues relating to youths and currently working towards combating the existing problems.
Meanwhile, Pejuang youth chief Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin said the movement will also bring a new objective to focus on the bigger things that will be shared to the public and not just within the leadership.
"It will be shared with the public, from the low-income group such as the fishermen to the professional groups to uplift their spirit, InsyaAllah,” he said.
He added that the movement which consisted of various political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with similar backgrounds to put forward the narrative of the Malay-Muslim.
"If it is built with the right intention and sincerity in fighting for religion and nation, we would succeed in facing the coming elections,” he said.
In his response to the issue of party-hopping, he said it would not be a problem for the movement as the country practices democracy.
"In Malaysia, we practice democracy and we also have various parties so leaders come and go.
"If they want to stay or leave the party, it is up to them.
"Here, we have a platform where the decision is made based on consensus,” he said.
GTA youths is a coalition between four political parties namely Pejuang, Bersatu, Putra and Iman as well as NGOs and professionals and individuals.
Recently, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the establishment of GTA and stressed that the idea would be to focus on competing in the all Malay majority seats in the coming election and those contested by Umno, especially in Peninsular Malaysia.