GEORGE TOWN – Eighteen-year-olds registered in Penang will be able to contest for state seats after the assembly passed the Penang Constitution (Amendment 2021) Bill today.
This changed the eligibility age of candidates for state seats from 21 to 18 years old.
The law was passed after getting the full support of all members of the assembly, after it was debated by six of them.
It was proposed by Soon Lip Chee (Bagan Jermal-DAP) who is also the state youth and sports exco.
In a survey spearheaded by Soon, he said 65.06% (2,661) of the total 3,475 youth respondents supported the proposal.
“We have collected their views via a survey carried out between December 8 and June 6. We also have campaigns in April to raise awareness among the youth.”
Soon, however, said the amendment to Article 12 will only take effect through a notification that will be announced later.
Penang is the seventh state to approve the eligibility age of candidates for state assembly seats from 21 to 18, after Sabah, Perlis, Terengganu, Sarawak, Kelantan and Perak.
Meanwhile, in the debate session, Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat-DAP) recalled his passion to join politics when he was 17 years old.
“When I was 17 years old, my father was arrested in Kamunting, Perak. I was then studying law abroad. As far as I remember at the time, I wanted to enter politics. But I couldn’t. So now, we are giving opportunities to the youth during the current political pandemic.” – The Vibes, September 1, 2021
