Robbery, Bersih says of Undi18 delay

KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission’s decision to postpone the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration is robbing Malaysians of their right to vote, said Bersih 2.0.

The electoral watchdog, in a statement today, said it is absurd for the EC to blame the delay on the Covid-19 pandemic and movement controls, considering that the information to register new voters is already available through the National Registration Department.

It said EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh’s coronavirus excuse is a blatant lie meant to confuse the public over the implementation of Undi18, and called for his immediate resignation.

“There is no technicality whatsoever involved in registering voters aged 18 to 21. It could have been implemented in 2019 after the constitutional amendment in Parliament was gazetted.

“Undi18 was delayed only because PAS demanded it and automatic voter registration to be commenced concurrently.”

Bersih said Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan on November 3 last year reaffirmed that the implementation of the amendments would be done by this July at the latest.

With the delay, the EC must answer to all Malaysians on whether it has faced unexpected failures and challenges resulting in the postponement, said the watchdog.

“The EC must be upfront and transparent, or it will be considered a yes-man to the ruling party, whose senior leaders have expressed reluctance to see Undi18 being implemented.”

Making known its disappointment, Bersih said it and other civil society organisations will not hesitate to take bolder action if the commission does not speed up the implementation.

“Bersih also demands that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin immediately allow Parliament to convene so that the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations and other relevant legislation may be updated to enable the implementation of Undi18 and automatic (voter) registration.

“Muhyiddin and the EC chairman must bear the sole responsibility for any delay in the implementation.”

Meanwhile, the Undi18 movement is looking into legal action against the government to compel the EC to allow 18- to 20-year-olds to register as voters this year.

The suit is expected to be filed on April 2. 

“Undi18 asserts that the implementation of the amendment to Article 119(1)(a) ought to be done first. 

“In light of recent developments, Undi18 strongly believes that youth between the ages of 18 and 20 should not be denied their constitutional right to vote. We believe that every vote matters in a democracy.

“Further delay to the implementation of the Undi18 bill systematically discriminates against the voices of youth. It has been close to two years since the legislation was passed in Parliament,” it said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Ghani announced that the implementation can be done only after September 1 next year due to constraints and issues affecting plans and preparations, including the movement control order to contain Covid-19.  – The Vibes, March 26, 2021