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JUNE 2026 (REGISTRATION STARTS AT 1:00 PM) CILANTRO CULINARY & PASTRY ACADEMY Gen Z and political realignment B Y now, somewhere in Tamil Nadu, a man is probably still setting off fireworks next to a 40ft-cut-out of C. Joseph Vijay Young voters, especially Gen Z, are tired – tired of recycled slogans, tired of political dynasties, tired of speeches that sound like they were drafted by a committee trapped in 1998 and tired of politicians speaking at them instead of to them. dismiss Tamil Nadu as a distant political theatre, they should look closer to home. Because the same undercurrents are already present. P O T T U O N P O I N T

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Which is why Tamil Nadu’s political shock is not a distant theatre. It is a preview of how quickly political inheritance can collapse when younger voters stop feeling emotionally represented by the system they were born into. And perhaps the most uncomfortable truth for traditional parties everywhere is this: younger voters are no longer asking which side they are supposed to be on. They are asking whether the sides still matter at all. This is what makes Vijay’s rise is more than an Indian political story. It’s a warning shot across systems built on legacy, loyalty and repetition. Because when voters stop inheriting politics and start curating it, even the strongest machines can begin to look fragile. Tamil Nadu may have elected a movie star but beneath the whistles, giant banners and celebratory noise was something far more serious – a generation quietly announcing that political loyalty is no longer inherited; it must now be earned, one scroll at a time. Tamil Nadu may have elected a movie star but the real verdict is not about Vijay; it is about every political party still assuming loyalty is permanent. Because it isn’t. In the age of Gen Z politics, irrelevance doesn’t arrive loudly; it arrives subtly as a quiet swipe.

while another is crying into a plate of biryani because the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) machine they thought would rule forever has just been politically body-slammed. And honestly? Nobody should pretend this was just another election. Tamil Nadu did not merely elect a movie star as chief minister; it detonated nearly six decades of political predictability. Most of the modern Indian political parties inherit loyalties the way Malaysians inherit opinions about nasi lemak stalls. You supported who your parents supported and the political script rarely changed. Then came Vijay – not cautiously and not gradually. Tamil Nadu revolved around two giants – the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – family inherited. Vijay walked into politics with fan clubs, cinematic swagger, meme power, Gen Z appeal and enough emotional capital to make veteran politicians sweat through their white shirts. And in his very first election, he pulled off what many thought was impossible. The old order cracked. Somewhere, political strategists across Asia probably sat upright at 2am clutching polling data like horror movie victims hearing a suspicious noise downstairs. Because this victory was not really about cinema; it was about exhaustion. Hypertension remains one of the leading contributors to cardiovascular disease globally, yet excessive salt intake – a major modifiable risk factor – often goes unnoticed in everyday diets. While sugar frequently dominates nutrition discussions, salt reduction deserves equal attention as part of a broader effort to prevent chronic diseases and promote healthier living. Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death globally and high salt intake is one of its most important modifiable risk factors. In recognition of this, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified salt reduction as one of its key global targets to reduce non communicable diseases by 2025. Yet, the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024 found that around three in four Malaysian adults consume diets high in salt. We consume, on average, 7.3g or 1.5 teaspoons of salt a day, higher than the WHO recommendation of less than 5g (1 teaspoon) of salt daily. What makes salt reduction particularly challenging is that much of the sodium (the main chemical in salt) we consume is hidden in everyday meals, sauces, gravies, processed foods and meals prepared outside the home. University and college students are especially vulnerable, as campus lifestyles often revolve around quick, affordable and convenient food options. The eating habits developed during

In Malaysia, politics is never far from anticipation. The question of when the next general election will come is almost permanent background noise in the system – part speculation, part strategy and part psychological positioning. But while the timeline remains uncertain, voter sentiment is not. It is already shifting. Younger Malaysians are increasingly politically unanchored. Party loyalty is weaker, coalition branding is less emotionally binding and historical political narratives carry far less weight than they once did. Many are not asking who governed before but who understands what it feels like to live now with rising costs, stagnant wages and a constant sense of policy fatigue. Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim operates in this new reality where reformist credibility, communication style and digital presence matter almost as much as policy itself. But goodwill in this climate is not permanent capital; it is something that must be repeatedly earned. At the same time, the opposition is not simply competing against the government; it is competing against attention spans, cynicism and a generation that no longer sees political anger as a long-term ideology. Outrage may still trend but it no longer guarantees loyalty.

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Vijay understood something many traditional politicians still do not. Gen Z does not consume politics the old way; they experience it emotionally, through reels, clips, moments, personality, relatability and who feels authentic enough to screenshot and share. That terrifies old political parties because they are still campaigning like people are patiently watching a two hour ceramah under a leaking tent. Today’s young voters are scrolling while brushing their teeth. A politician now has about eight seconds before somebody swipes away to a cat video. And somehow, Vijay mastered that ecosystem better than political veterans who have spent decades in power. His speeches became viral clips. His image was carefully built as anti establishment yet accessible. His fan clubs evolved into grassroots machinery long before he officially entered politics. He already had something every political party desperately wants but cannot manufacture overnight – emotional loyalty. Not ideological loyalty; emotional loyalty and that distinction matters. Because this election was not won on machinery alone; it was won on connection. And before Malaysian politicians

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“Tamil Nadu may have elected a movie star but beneath the whistles, giant banners and celebratory noise was something far more serious – a generation quietly announcing that political loyalty is no longer inherited; it must now be earned, one scroll at a time.

Hashini Kavishtri Kannan is the assistant news editor at theSun. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

COMMENT by Prof Emeritus Datin Dr Chia Yook Chin and Dr Say Yee How

A pinch too much: Rethinking salt consumption AS the world observes World Salt Awareness Week from May 12 to 18, and marks World Hypertension Day tomorrow, it is an opportune moment for Malaysians to reflect on our dietary habits and the hidden salt content in the foods we consume daily. these formative years may persist into adulthood, influencing long-term health outcomes. This is why healthier campus food environments deserve greater national attention. Encouragingly, some higher

education institutions have started introducing initiatives aimed at promoting lower-salt meals through collaboration with food vendors, nutrition awareness campaigns and gradual food reformulation efforts. These programmes demonstrate that healthier eating can be promoted without compromising affordability, accessibility or cultural food preferences. Importantly, salt reduction should not be viewed as an isolated nutritional issue but as part of a broader societal effort involving policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators, the food industry and consumers themselves. Public education remains essential because many people still underestimate how much sodium is present in common foods such as noodles, fried dishes, soups, processed meats and convenience meals. At the same time, innovative approaches deserve further exploration. Globally, there is growing interest in low-sodium salt substitutes, which partially replace sodium with potassium while maintaining taste acceptability. Emerging evidence suggests that such approaches may help reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular risks at the population level when implemented appropriately alongside conventional salt reduction strategies. World Salt Awareness Week serves as a timely reminder that small dietary changes can have significant long-term benefits. Reducing salt intake does not require dramatic lifestyle

Public education remains essential because many people still underestimate how much sodium is present in common foods. – REUTERSPIC

Prof Emeritus Datin Dr Chia Yook Chin and Dr Say Yee How are associated with the Malaysian Society for World Action on Salt, Sugar and

changes; even gradual reductions in food preparation and reformulation can help recalibrate taste preferences over time. If we are serious about building healthier campuses and healthier communities, then nutrition must be part of the conversation. After all, the future health of our nation is shaped not only in hospitals and clinics but also in cafeterias, food courts and dining halls where daily habits are formed.

Health and affiliated with the Jeffrey Cheah Sunway Medical School, Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com