Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has voiced his support for the Youth and Sports Ministry’s proposal to separate the implementation of the 18-year-old voting age and automatic voter registration process.
“The Election Commission (EC) claimed the automatic voter registration cannot be implemented by July 2021 due to system issues and the movement control order.
“Even though I cannot accept the excuse given by the EC because preparations had started since July 2019, the focus and priority of the government should be on immediately giving voting rights to youths aged 18 and above,” he in a statement on his Facebook today.
Saddiq (above), who is the former youth and sports minister, said the EC had informed him when he was still the minister that Undi18 can be implemented immediately.
The obstacle for the EC at the time was the automatic voter registration which requires developing a system, checks, coordinating data and so on, he said.
“Therefore, allow youths aged 18 and above to register as voters first,” Saddiq urged.
Earlier today, it was reported that the Youth and Sports Ministry had tabled a proposal to the cabinet yesterday to separate the implementation of the 18-year-old voting age and automatic voter registration process.
Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican had reportedly said he hoped the EC could implement the proposal as all cabinet members have expressed their support for Undi18.
EC chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh had previously said that the automatic voter registration and lowering of voting age to 18 could only be implemented after Sept 1, 2022.
Critics have questioned the delay as this would likely mean Undi18 will not be implemented in time for the 15th general election, which is widely expected to take place after August this year.
On July 16, 2019, the Dewan Rakyat had approved the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 that seeks to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, automatic voter registration and lowering the eligible age to contest in election to 18. - Mkini
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