Proposal to lower voting age targeted for next Parliament sitting

The Youth and Sports Ministry will propose an amendment to the Federal Constitution in this coming Dewan Rakyat session, to lower the voting age threshold from 21 years old to 18 years old.

"I am targeting, InsyaAllah, (to bring to parliament) in this session.

"That is why we are in the midst of discussing with the Election Commission (EC) about the constitutional amendment," Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman told a press conference today.

Last Sept 19, the cabinet had agreed to lower the voting age threshold from 21 years old to 18 years old.

The Muar MP also said that his ministry has implemented a youth committee to gather representatives from political parties to collaborate with the ministry over the voting age limit.

"We called on Bersatu, PAS, Umno and others, and they have reached a consensus on this issue," he said.

Besides that, Syed Saddiq said they are also going to table a motion to lower the age limit of the youth group from 40 years old to 30 years old and below.

"If you follow the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act now, it is 40 years and below. That is why I will table to parliament in this coming session or future sessions to lower the age limit from 40 to 30 years old.

"This is because, in other countries, the standard for youths is 28 years old and below, but in Malaysia, we are still stuck at 40 years old," he said.

He explained that when the youth age limit is lowered, more opportunities can be given to the targeted group.

"This means that opportunities which were previously allocated for youths were dominated by those 35 years old and above.

"So there are two big reforms which the Youth Ministry will bring, the first will be the constitutional amendment to change the voting age limit from 21 years old to 18 years old, and the second is to lower the age limit of youths from 40 years old to 30 years old and below," he said.

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