KOTA KINABALU – The decision by the Election Commission to delay Undi18 despite having a year to prepare for its implementation is a political ploy by certain quarters to gain advantage in the 15th general election, said Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe.
The Sabah DAP Youth chief said delaying Undi18 is unacceptable as the bill was unanimously passed in Parliament in July 2019.
“It goes to show how inefficient and incapable the EC is, and that this is clearly a politically motivated decision since the EC has had sufficient time – more than a year – to prepare for its implementation after the Senate passed the bill on July 25, 2019.”
Meanwhile, youth group Undi Sabah expressed disappointment that all its hard work put into realising the implementation of the lowered voting age is now futile.
Backtracking from the commitment to execute the bill, which received bipartisan support, is an insult to democracy, it said.
EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh two days ago announced that Undi18 can be implemented only after September 1 next year due to constraints and issues affecting plans and preparations, including the movement control order to contain Covid-19.
Regression in amplifying youth voices
Undi Sabah has been championing youth participation and empowerment to build political literacy among the younger generation and future leaders in the state.
“The recent announcement reverses the progress Malaysia has made in its journey to amplify youth’s voices,” said the group.
Sabah is the first state to lower the voting age by amending the state constitution, allowing 18-year-olds to vote.
Undi Sabah said all of the state’s assemblymen and MPs must reaffirm their commitment to support the lowered voting age, to ensure there is genuine effort to empower political participation among youth.
Meanwhile, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation secretary-general Nelson Angang said fresh elections can be called only if Undi18 is implemented.
“Article 19(1)(a) of the federal constitution has already been gazetted, which allows for Malaysian citizens from the age of 18 to vote.
“I believe the government will rely on Section 1(2) of the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2019, which says Section 3 of the act takes effect on a date to be chosen by the Yang-di-Pertuan Agong by notification in the gazette.
“Now, Section 3 of the Constitution (Amendment) Act talks about amending the (minimum) age of voters from 21 to 18 years old.”
On the EC indicating that the 1.2 million-strong group of Malaysians aged between 18 and 21 make up a meagre number, he said it is not about the figure, but about constitutional rights, which cannot be exercised in the event early elections are called.
“For the EC, it may be a small figure, but even with a small number of voters, there could be a big impact on the result of the general election.”
He said the authorities like the National Registration Department must work with the EC to ensure those who are automatically registered as new voters are in fact citizens, and not people who obtained MyKad illegally.
A Sabah royal commission of inquiry this year revealed that illegal immigrants were given identity documents to vote in several elections, he added. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021
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