Hot Chocolate and Current Events: Malaysia Elections Edition

Want your kids to know what’s in the news, but don’t know where to start? We are here to help! Our Hot Chocolate and Current Events section of our weekly newsletter is designed to help you discuss important issues of the day with your kids. The articles we choose are family-friendly. Your kids’ knowledge will expand in all areas—from vocabulary to economics to geography. 

At Silverdale Press, we love elections (our flagship product was our Presidential Election Unit Study). But this week, we’re learning about a really remarkable election that elevated to office the world’s oldest elected leader. Want to learn more? Keep reading!

First, read this article from BBC News with your kids. You can also watch the related video. 

Next, locate Malaysia on a map. See its country profile. 

Use the following questions to discuss the article:

• Why do you think Malaysia elected Mahathir Mohamad? 
• At age 92, what challenges do you think he will face as prime minister? 
• What might make Malaysians more likely than, say, Americans to elect a 92-year-old?
• The BN coalition had been in power since 1957. What might have caused people to oust them? 
• Based on your reading of the article, what were the most important issues in the election?
• What issues is Malaysia facing that your country is not? What problems do they have in common?
• Why is it significant that young voters said, “We see him like a grandfather.” What grandparent-like character qualities should elected leaders have?
• What would a leader have to do and be to create “a resurgence of faith” in a country?

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