Minister confident second time's the charm with Undi 18 vote

De facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong (photo, above) is confident the spectre of Putrajaya’s first failed constitutional amendment bid will not rear its head again as lawmakers will soon vote on the government’s bid to lower the minimum voting age. 

According to Liew, the opposition would not deny the rakyat, especially the youth, a second time as doing so would likely see them being “punished”.

He was referring to Pakatan Harapan government’s failed bid last April to pass the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 intended to restore Sabah and Sarawak's position as an equal region to Peninsular Malaysia in accordance with Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 

At the time, Harapan was just 10 votes shy of the required two-thirds majority needed. It was believed lawmakers from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), BN and PAS abstained.

“We did that (first constitutional amendment bid) for the rakyat, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak. I don't see the opposition MPs wanting to play politics and halt the second constitutional amendment this time around to deny the rakyat, especially youths, from voting.

“If they are going to deny the amendment, I think the rakyat will punish all these opposition MPs,” he told Malaysiakini in an interview today.

Even so, he was sure bi-partisan co-operation was possible.

“Of course. We want to tell the opposition we are not doing this for selfish reasons, we are doing this for the country. Come and support us... unlike last time.”

No matter the outcome, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the government was pressing ahead with its plan to table the new motion to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18, for the sake of the people.

“If they (the 18 and above age group) have the right to get married, they may as well have the right to vote,” he said. 

Liew’s statement comes not long after Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa also urged the government to engage in more bi-partisan policymaking, especially on matters requiring constitutional amendments and two-thirds parliamentary support. 

The latter called on the government to consult with the opposition’s shadow government so that important motions are not bulldozed through. 

Umno opposition leader Ismail Sabri and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man announced today that the two parties would support the motion to lower the voting age, on the condition automatic voter registration is included in the reforms bill. 

Meanwhile in an unrelated matter, Liew, who is Warisan’s Batu Sapi MP, also spoke about his efforts to bring his services to his constituents. 

He says over the past year, he has gone around in a modified van to various villages and islands so that his constituents need not travel all the way to his service centre.

“I think the most important change is to make it convenient for people to access government agencies. 

“I have been going to the ground. I have been bringing the services to the people...including the health department (free health checks), the national registration department and even a mobile court,” he told Malaysiakini. - Mkini