Young people in region need to collaborate, understand neighbours, say panellists

While some young people in this region might think that their future lies in the West, in countries such as the United States, it is important that young people understand developments in their immediate neighbourhood.

This is especially so given the great economic opportunities and potential among regional countries such as Indonesia, said Dr Shashi Jayakumar, founder of risk consultancy firm SJK Geostrategic Advisory.

"It is important for us, especially young people, to concentrate and pay some attention to our closest neighbours," said Dr Shashi, noting that it would be beneficial for young people to understand, on a more personal level, what newly minted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stood for, as well as the potential linkages young people in Singapore and Indonesia could benefit from.

Dr Shashi was one of the panellists alongside Mr Luhut Pandjaitan, newly appointed chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council and a special adviser for digitalisation and government technology, and The Straits Times' Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee and Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh.

The panel spoke at the ST Asia Future Summit on the topic of South-east Asia's youth and how their votes and vitality will shape the politics and economies of the region.

Agreeing with the need for young people in Asean to collaborate more in the areas of the economy, research and the resolution of territorial disputes such as the South China Sea, Mr Luhut said: "If we are able to consolidate, we can have one voice... It is very important to understand and not look only at your own interests but also at Asean as a big market."

With young people in the Asean region making up about a third - or more than 200 million - of the total population in the grouping, the panel sought to shine the light on youth involvement and voices in elections in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia over the years.