Lowering voter age will play into BN hands, claims Zahid

RANTAU POLLS | The Pakatan Harapan government's proposal to amend the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age from 21 years to 18 years will benefit the BN.

In claiming this, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told a crowd at Taman Angsamas in Rantau that most young people find the government's performance to be inadequate.

"Even if the government succeeds in July (at the Parliament sitting) to reduce the age of voters from 21 years to 18, come GE15, I want to remind you that most young people are against the tide.

"We are the opposition, we can provide checks and balances. I ask them to try to bring it to Parliament. If they (Harapan) succeed in amending the constitution to lower the eligibility age to 18 years, hopefully, they (young people) will reconcile with BN," Zahid said in front of some 200 attendees at the ceramah last night.

Also present were MIC vice-president C Sivaaraajh, Senator Khairul Azwan Harun and PAS leaders.

"Do not think young people are stupid. Do not underestimate the ability of young people to see the truth," he told the crowd.

On his next breath, Zahid, who is on sabbatical from his role as Umno president, cast doubt on the government's capacity to pass the constitutional amendment to lower the voting age.

"I know that to amend the constitution, they must get a two-thirds majority, that is, there should be 148 votes. Yesterday was not enough," he said, unable to resist a jibe at Harapan's failure to pass the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019.

The Rantau by-election this Saturday will see Umno incumbent Mohamad Hasan go up against Harapan's Dr S Streram and two independent candidates, R Malar and Mohd Nor Yassin.

The by-election was called after the BN leader failed to challenge the Election Court declaring his walkover in last year's general election null and void. - Mkini