Wan Fayshal: I have not wavered in support of Undi 18

 

Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said his statement about the need to educate voters should not be construed as him wavering in his support for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

This is after a report, citing his comment during an online dialogue on the Clubhouse app, said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal appeared to think that those aged 18 to 20 are not yet ready to vote.

"It is important to note that this was never my intention. However, I did express my concern and firm belief that with rights also come responsibilities. The right to vote necessarily comes with the moral duty to do so judiciously," he said in a statement.

Wan Ahmad Fayshal said that this did not mean that he was withdrawing support for the Undi 18 initiative.

"Again, I would like to state that my unequivocal support for Undi 18 remains as steadfast today as it was two years ago. Let the public records reflect that without any qualification," said the deputy youth and sports minister.

Wan Ahmad Fayshal added that he had in the past also expressed a similar position.

"In a constitutional monarchy and such parliamentary democracy as ours, voter education programmes should rightfully cover subjects such as the supremacy of our federal and state constitutions, the rule of law, the role of the monarchs as our guide and stay, as well as the indispensable purpose of democracy to safeguard our sovereignty as a proud and independent nation.

"Our democracy relies heavily on the ability of our citizenry to make informed decisions based on established facts instead of speculation and extrapolation. Our media has a role to play in providing true and fair reporting to our civil society," he said.

The Federal Constitution was amended in 2019 to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

The implementation is supposed to take effect in June when automatic voter registration would also be introduced.

However, in the lead up to the implementation, there are now efforts to stonewall the initiative, including from Wan Ahmad Fayshal's own party.

Dewan Negara speaker Rais Yatim, who is from Bersatu, claimed those aged 18 to 20 were "not yet ready" for their democratic right.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has criticised the pushback.

He said the matter had been debated and approved in Parliament and there should not be a change in position simply because the potential young voters are not supportive of certain parties.

"Young political leaders must think beyond short term consideration. Stopping Undi 18 now may help to survive the 15th general election, but they (young voters) won't forget during the 16th general election (when they come of age to vote)," he said on Twitter.

He stressed that the young generation should be given the right to decide their own future.

"Be a gentleman and let what had been agreed upon to proceed," he said. - Mkini