'Opposition should back constitutional amendment to lower voting age'

Syahredzan Johan, political secretary to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, said the opposition should support a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

He said this after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government should consider lowering the voting age.

Syahredzan said the time had come for the federal government to amend Article 119(1) of the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age.

"Opposition parties should support any government motion for such an amendment.

"In the new Malaysia, there is no reason why young people should be denied the opportunity to become involved in determining the future of the country through the electoral process," he said in a statement today.

Syahredzan pointed out that the proposal, which had long been advocated by DAP, was part of Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto.

"In 1971, Lim in his winding-up speech in Parliament had proposed that the voting age be reduced to 18.

"He also proposed the setting up on an All-Party Committee to study the proposal. Unfortunately, there was no concrete effort to realise the proposal," he said.

Syahredzan said there was no reason why an 18-year-old could vote when they instead were allowed to work, get married and get a driver's licence.

He pointed out that most neighbouring countries including Thailand, the Phillippines and Indonesia had a voting age of 18. -Mkini