Muda pushes PM to allow 18-year-olds register as voters under current system

 

The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) is pushing Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to allow 18 to 20-year-olds to register as voters under the existing system.

In a memo to the prime minister, Muda said it was embarrassing that Malaysia talks about Industrial Revolution 4.0 when struggling with the technological aspect of automatic voter registration.

However, it said a compromise would be to allow the new group of eligible voters to register manually under the old system.

"Muda proposes that Undi18 is implemented using the same processes and mechanisms that have been used for decades.

"This can be implemented immediately without the need for additional allocation from the government," it said in the memo addressed to the prime minister dated April 5.

The same proposal was presented to the cabinet by Umno's Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Parliament approved a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age (Undi18) and allow automatic voter registration in 2019.

However, the Election Commission (EC) last month announced it was postponing the lowering of the voting age to September next year.

This means 18 to 20-year-olds are unlikely to vote in the 15th general election should it be called in August when the emergency expires.

The EC cited challenges in implementing automatic voter registration, which would include all eligible 18 to 20-year-olds in the electoral roll.

Muda said the opposition is prepared to support efforts by the government to make Undi18 possible.

It added that pushing ahead with Undi18 would be consistent with what MPs had unanimously voted for in 2019 when they supported the constitutional amendment to allow 18-20-year-olds to vote. - Mkini