KUALA LUMPUR – Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has condemned the Election Commission and Putrajaya over the decision to delay lowering the voting age to 18 (Undi18) and automatic voter registration.
The deputy youth chief said this could result in the reason why youths refuse to support the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
“Undi18 cannot be delayed and it must go through. This is the reason youths will not support the ruling government. We look like liars. The youths won’t support us. They will run. They will think that the government is afraid of their votes.
“We’ve made a promise, committed to it in Parliament and this promise must be delivered. People will question why is Umno criticising the government when they are part of the government?
“Umno has nothing to do with this unwise decision,” said Shahril who was addressing his wing held in conjunction with Umno’s annual general assembly, here, today.
He pointed out that the party’s core market, especially for its Pemuda and Puteri wings, are non-partisan young people.
Shahril said that in order to obtain their support, the party must be able to win the imagination of generations Y and Z.
The youth leader acknowledged that when it comes to servicing the public no one can come close to Umno but in the last election, what filled the imagination of youngsters was the fact that Umno was accused of corruption and robbing the country blind.
“We must know what is important for these young voters. Many studies have shown that their main concern is economic matters. It’s not the division of seats between Umno, PAS and Bersatu.
“It’s not a new political realignment. The youths want to see which party can offer economic uplift,” said Shahril. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021
