KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission should not delay the implementation of Undi18, said a group of young leaders, urging the polls body to hold regular discussions with Malaysian youth on the plan.
In an open letter to the commission, the 10 leaders from various political outfits said not much is known about how the EC will implement the lowered voting age.
“As young leaders, we would like to ask the EC, what is your stand on this matter? What is the direction of Undi18?
“We are ready to participate in discussions with the EC, so that all information on this issue can be disseminated to young leaders and youth across all political parties, as well as the nation.”
The bill to allow 18-year-olds to vote got two-thirds support in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in July 2019.
“Any effort to delay Undi18 can be seen as a move to deny youth’s right to vote for their preferred representatives,” said the letter.
“The right for them to vote is enshrined in the federal constitution, and to deny them the right to vote will only mar Malaysia’s image in the global arena.”
The Dewan Rakyat passed an amendment to Article 119 of the constitution in 2019 to lower the eligible voting age from 21 to 18.
Youth will be automatically registered as voters, and eligible to contest in federal seats.
According to the National Registration Department, there were 1.52 million registered youth voters as of June 2019.
They letter is signed by:
- Howard Lee (DAP Youth chief)
- Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin (Pejuang Youth chief)
- Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin (Amanah Youth chief)
- Sharan Raj (Parti Sosialis Malaysia central committee member)
- Akmal Nasir (PKR Youth chief)
- Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (Parti Warisan Sabah Youth chief)
- Felix Joseph Sitin (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation Youth chief)
- Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas (Warisan Wirawati deputy head)
- Shahril Sufian Hamdan (Umno Youth deputy chief)
- Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda co-founder). – The Vibes, February 24, 2021
