MIRI – While various quarters rejoice over the high court ruling ordering the government to implement Undi18 by December 31, Sarawak PKR is worried that it may not be enforced in time for the next state election.
Its information chief Abun Sui Anyit today said the judgment is of no use for the state polls unless the government immediately takes steps to make it law.
He told The Vibes there is genuine concern that there will be delays hindering the effectiveness of the court ruling, and expressed worry that the government will file an appeal.
“Any appeal will take months to be settled.
"If the government accepts the high court judgment and takes immediate steps to turn it into law, then, we may see an impact on the 12th state election.”
However, the minimum voting age cannot be lowered to 18 in time for the Sarawak polls if the vote is held too soon, or if the government appeals against the ruling, pushing back the date for it to be imposed, said the Miri-based lawyer, who handles native rights and land dispute cases across the state.
Yesterday, the Kuching High Court ruled that the government must implement Undi18 and the related amendments by December 31, following a judicial review application.
The decision comes after Sarawakian youth initiated a judicial review action against the prime minister, federal government and Election Commission (EC).
On May 4, the group filed legal proceedings at the Kuching High Court to get voting rights for all aged 18 and above prior to the polls.
Representing the Undi Sarawak campaign, the youth said they wanted a judicial review against the prime minister, government and EC.
“We are seeking a court declaration that 18- to 20-years-olds have a legitimate expectation that they will have the right to vote by July 2021.
“We are also seeking to quash the government’s decision to delay the implementation of the lowered voting age from 21 to 18.”
Their statement said the delay will affect 125,000 to 135,000 Sarawakian youth, as the state assembly had, in December last year, passed a bill lowering the minimum standing age from 21 to 18.
The group expressed concern over a statement by EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh that both automatic voter registration and the lowered voting age will be implemented only after September 1 next year due to various constraints and issues, including developments in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sarawak is still under a localised state of emergency until next February.
The state assembly’s term expired on June 6, but fresh polls cannot yet be held given the coronavirus crisis. – The Vibes, September 4, 2021
