EC: Over 4 million unregistered voters around 21 years of age

Election Commission says it is "worrisome" that so many do not fully appreciate the meaning of "people power".

SHAH ALAM: A total of 4.1 million Malaysians who are eligible to vote have yet to register as voters as of February this year, Election Commission (EC) chairman Mohd Hashim Abdullah said today.

He said the figure comprised various races, with the majority being those around 21 years of age.

As such, he said the commission was working with the private sector to organise various programmes to encourage them to register.

“Based on the latest statistics, about 45% of Malaysians are young people, with more than four million of them not registered as voters. It is worrisome.

“If they do not register as voters, there is no point talking (about the country’s political situation) on social media, if what is spoken cannot be translated into votes,” he told reporters after launching the Voter Registration Campaign at Kompleks Media Kumpulan Karangkraf here today.

He said many young people did not bother to register as voters simply because they did not understand the importance of “people’s power” or have to experience living without facilities, especially in the rural areas.

As such, he said, the three-month campaign would be mobilised to encourage them to register.

“The EC will focus on areas where the people face difficulties in travelling from their homes to register as voters, such as in the rural areas,” he added.

Mohd Hashim said Malaysians should exercise their voting rights by casting their vote on polling day.

He said the highest voter turn-out for elections in the country was only 75% so far.

“For example, in the recent Sarawak state election, only 68% of voters cast their votes,” he added.

The voter registration campaign at the Kompleks Media Kumpulan Karangkraf was jointly organised by Sinar Harian and AirAsia X Berhad.

For the campaign, AirAsia X Berhad offered 1,100 free flight tickets to several destinations abroad for those who registered as voters. -FMT