KUALA LUMPUR – The Kuching High Court has 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).
"We would like to express our utmost gratitude to the court for honouring the constitutional rights of Malaysian youth by allowing the application made with regard to the enforcement of Undi18, by December 2021,” said UndiSarawak in a statement today.
This decision may allow eight million new voters aged between 18 and 20 to take part in the 15th general election expected to be held next year.
The statement said a ruling on the same matter will be made on October 21 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, where 18 youth have filed a similar judicial review application.
Today’s decision was made by justice Alexander Siew How Wai.
He said the government and EC’s decision to delay the implementation of Undi18 to September next year is both illegal and irrational.
Taking to Twitter to celebrate the victory, Undi18 co-founder Qyira Yusri said: “We succeeded! The Kuching High Court ordered the government of Malaysia to implement #Undi18 by Dec 2021.”
Ivan Alexander Ong, one of the applicants in the judicial review bid, expressed happiness at the thought of 125,000 to 135,000 youth in Sarawak casting their ballots.
“I am forever grateful for the decision made by Alexander Siew How Wai and the high court of Sarawak today, as Malaysian youth will have the constitutional right to vote by the next elections, especially for Sarawakians, where 125,000 to 135,000 youth will be able to vote in the upcoming state election once the localised emergency ends.
“Undi18 created history, where, for the first time ever, a constitutional amendment restoring the voting rights of millions of youth was agreed on by all political parties.” – The Vibes, September 3, 2021
