SENATE The government is still studying the proposal for automatic voter registration of citizens who reach 21 years-old, the Dewan Negara heard today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim said an in-depth study should be done as it involves many factors including amending Article 119 (1)(c) of the federal constitution which states the need for the electoral roll.

“If the proposal (automatic voter registration) is to be implemented, it needs an in-depth study before any amendments can be made to the existing provisions.

“However, until this study is done, the government has no plans to implement automatic voter registration,” he said in reply to Senator Syed Ibrahim Kader who asked about the government’s stand on the proposal for automatic voter registration of citizens who reach 21 years-old.

Article 119 of the federal constitution does not allow Malaysian citizens eligible to register themselves as voters to do so automatically.

It also said eligible voters must apply to register as voters and it is up to them to apply after reaching 21 years old.

- Bernama