Gov't tables Constitution Bill to lower voting age

PARLIAMENT | The government has tabled the amendment to Article 119 of Federal Constitution Bill to lower the voting age to 18 at Dewan Rakyat today.

The amendment is being tabled for first reading by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

"Every citizen who has attained the age of 18 years on the qualifying date and has been resident in a constituency for at least six months immediately preceding the qualifying date is entitled to vote in that constituency....," the amendment reads.

It is expected that the amendment to the Constitution bill will be debated at the committee stage on July 16. It needs two-thirds of the Dewan Rakyat lawmakers to pass the bill.

Yesterday, the opposition parties - BN, PAS and GPS - gave their green light to lower the voting age, provided the government implements automatic voter registration (AVR).

Both lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 and automatic voter registration were listed as part of Pakatan Harapan's GE14 manifesto.

[More to follow] - Mkini