KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Youth Council has called on the government to hold off any plan for a general election until all issues pertaining to the registration of 18-year-olds as voters are ironed out.
Its president, Jufitri Joha, said it will be worrying if the newly eligible voter group is left out from polling due to a technicality involving the current state of emergency.
On Friday, the Election Commission (EC) said that the emergency could pose a hurdle in registering new voters, as required amendments to certain election laws could not be tabled due to Parliament being suspended.
With Parliament only expected to sit after the emergency’s tentative lifting on August 1, and the inclusion of new voter names into the electoral roll expected to take months, there is a high probability that many youth will not be registered in time for the next general election, assuming it is held this year as rumoured.
The 15th general election must be held by September 2023.
“The government ought to give some time before holding the election to allow the necessary amendments to be made and for 18-year-olds to be eligible to vote,” Jufitri told The Vibes.
“We are worried that the opportunity given to youth to vote may be cut off and denied by this technical issue.
“The EC must find the best way to expedite the process of new voter registrations.”
Amendments to the federal constitution to lower the voting age to 18 and allow automatic registration were passed in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in July 2019.
Last year, de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan told Parliament the changes will officially take effect by July this year, as certain amendments to the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002, among others, are still required.
Jufitri urged the special independent committee on the emergency to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to end the emergency proclamation as soon as the Covid-19 situation improves to expedite the necessary changes.
In any case, he said, the government stands to benefit from these new voters if it shows commitment to ensuring their smooth registration as voters, and allowing them to exercise their rights.
“I prefer if the government waits until the amendments are in place (before calling for election).
“I know the dilemma is that we need to hold an election as soon as possible to form a stable government. But I am confident that if Putrajaya makes these amendments first, surely its image among the youth will be more positive.” – The Vibes, February 22, 2021
