AT 28, Carol Chew is MCA's youngest candidate this general election, but her fight is one of the toughest. She will be up against Opposition goliath Teresa Kok for the Seputeh parliamentary seat.

Her age, however, belies her experience. Although she has only been in politics for six years, her involvement has been intensive. As Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen's personal assistant, Carol cut her political teeth under the tutelage of one of the most formidable woman politicians today.

She has been fully immersed in serving the community and in the workings of a political machinery since she joined Dr Ng at 22. In 2005, she took on the responsibilities of heading Beliawanis (MCA's young women's wing).

"I helped Dr Ng campaign in Raub (Pahang) in the last elections. The last term of the Government has also been unique in that there were five by-elections, and all the girls and I went down to the ground to help." As Beliawanis head, Carol has also been actively involved in relief operations following disasters such as floods. She has also spearheaded projects to help young people, such as developing entrepreneurial skills and encouraging young people to take on social entrepreneur initiatives.

The unceasing phone calls, late nights and hectic pace of campaigning are not new to Carol.

She is affable and approachable. Her MCA training is apparent in her frequent references to MCA's core missions and deference to the older and more experienced colleagues. She knows her campaign manifesto, and has learnt how to respond convincingly to questions from her media-savvy boss.

She does not deny the backstabbing and ruthlessness of her playing field, but says she guards against all that ugliness with "positive thinking".

"I am not interested in gossip. I don't want to know who is saying what, so that I don't have negative feelings towards people and don't contribute to the negative cycle."

Carol admits there have been times when she was overwhelmed by the demands on her, but she always turns to her core values.

"I believe in becoming a better person, in serving society and making a change in the community."

Carol now has the opportunity to come to her own as an MP. However, she is also fully aware of her rival's immense popularity in Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur.

She believes however that her edge and appeal to voters lie in her youth.

"I am young, and more open to new ideas and changes for the area. The Seputeh constituents have voted for the Opposition for 15 years; it's time they try for a change. It'll also be good for them to have their voices heard in mainstream politics." Whatever the outcome of this election, Carol's candidacy is a positive step in politics.

The various political parties are recognising the need for younger representations and new inputs in Government. "Our current leadership (MCA) is really looking into rejuvenating and re-energising the party. My advantage of entering politics early is that I have more energy and more time to achieve my goals," says Carol, who hopes that her candidacy will encourage young people to join politics.

"It shows that if you are able to prove yourself, the party leadership will give you a chance."

Carol's early involvement in politics is however an exception in the local scenario. By her admission, Carol too was apathetic towards politics like her peers. Hers is a modern day political fairy tale of sorts. At 22, she was "discovered" by Dr Ng when she emceed a function the latter officiated.

Dr Ng offered the fresh graduate the position of special assistant to her, and Carol accepted because she thought it'd give her "good learning ground".

"She told me that she'd groom me. She liked my attitude, and once she told me that if I was a gem, she'd able to train me and make me shine like a gem. But if I am a rock, I'd break under her training," recounts Carol. She insists that she had no inkling that it'd lead to her becoming a full-fledged politician, but Carol has long been prepared to enter the public sphere. She grew up being actively involved in community work as her parents held leadership positions in clan associations.

For Carol, joining Dr Ng's office was a chance to expand on her interest in community work, and not because she wanted to join politics.

Since then, however, Carol says she has become convinced that the "quickest and most direct way of making a change in the community" is through politics.

"There are not enough young people in decision-making positions. For instance, training programmes are not designed by the young," points out Carol.

One of her key missions is to encourage the participation of young people in politics, "to build citizenship, to encourage people to put more effort into nation-building." She acknowledges young people's disillusionment with politics, but believes that should be the impetus for action, not apathy.

"It's not fair to just sit and think like that, without lifting your finger to make a change in the community. You are not doing anything proactively. The situation will not improve," says Carol. DAP's Hannah is standing for the Subang Jaya state seat in Selangor, but her candidacy is essentially the kind of initiative Carol is urging from young people.

The newly-wed - she got married a month ago - quit her job as an events manager to stand as a candidate so she could bring about change. Hannah too believes that it's time for young people to step forward and get involved in politics.

"I was like most young people my age. In my early 20s, I was busy studying and building a career. But recent developments in the judiciary and incidents such as MPs making shocking remarks in Parliament have made me realise that I need to exercise my rights as a citizen," says the 29-year-old law graduate.

Hannah registered as a voter and joined DAP last year.

Availing herself to stand as a candidate underscores her conviction on the need to be proactive. Still, she resists being called a politician, preferring to describe her quest as:

"I want to be a spokesperson for the people." Although their paths to candidacy differ, Carol and Hannah represent a new tide of youthful exuberance and idealism in politics today.

Hannah wants to introduce a different rhetoric in the Selangor state government.

"I represent the young generation. We grow up with friends from different races; we eat together and speak a common language.

"We should not be fighting for racial rights, but on common rights."

She says she is the best representative for the people of Subang Jaya because she has spent her whole life in the neighbourhood and identifies with their concerns. "I want to be available and approachable to the people," says the former head prefect of SM Subang Jaya.

Most importantly, Hannah offers her integrity as a well-meaning representative of the people.

"I want to be accountable to the people, and to be transparent. We need a strong opposition in government so there will be check and balance." Like Carol, Hannah also sees her candidacy as a way of propelling young people's interest in politics.

"Because I am running in this elections, my friends have also become interested. They are supporting my campaign, and many are realising the importance of registering as voters. Some of them have not registered as voters and now regret it because they cannot vote for me."

Whether voters are ready to give young candidates a chance to serve them however remains to be seen on March 8.