Minister confirms youths 18-20 can't vote in Sarawak polls

 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has confirmed that youths aged 18 to 20 cannot vote in the upcoming Sarawak state election.

This is despite Undi18 constitutional amendments to lower the voting age and implement automatic voter registration kicking in on Dec 15 - three days before polling in Sarawak.

In a statement, Wan Junaidi explained that for the state election, they will use the electoral roll that was updated on Nov 2.

He denied that this was meant to disenfranchise youth voters.

"This decision is based on the legal process, including the decision made by the Kuching High Court, and is not meant to deny or sidestep the rights and desires of youths aged 18 and above to vote.

"I wish to clarify that there is no pressure from anyone in this issue.

"Sarawak is ready to accept youth voters. I hope this issue is not politicised," he said.

Wan Junaidi is a member of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) - which is the incumbent Sarawak state government.

The Sarawak polls was supposed to be held in the middle of this year, but was postponed due to Covid-19 after a localised emergency was declared.

The emergency was set to expire in February next year, giving hope that 18-year-olds could vote in the state election.

However, the state emergency was lifted early last month - a move critics claim was done to avoid youth participation in the polls. - Mkini