Voting age - Dr M confident of two-thirds support this time around

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed confidence that the bill to amend the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age to 18 will receive two-thirds majority support from MPs.

He said this after a briefing specifically for opposition MPs - possibly the first in history - on the government's plans to incorporate opposition requests into the bill.

Mahathir said opposition MPs had pledged their commitment to support the bill on condition that the new law would allow those over 18 to be automatically included in the voter register and that the age for election candidates also be lowered to 18.

"We are confident (of their support). Surely (the opposition MPs) are not lying to me," said Mahathir in jest to a question during a press conference after the briefing.

This is the second time that the Mahathir-administration will be tabling a constitutional amendment bill that can only be passed if two-thirds of all MPs (148 out of 222) support it.

The last attempt to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution concerning the status of Sabah and Sarawak failed because the ruling coalition was short of 10 votes.

Mahathir was flanked by opposition MPs during the press conference. This is also a historical first.

Opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the press conference the opposition bloc was grateful that the prime minister and government had accepted their suggestions.

When asked to comment on BN's decision to appoint Najib Abdul Razak as the coalition's advisor, Mahathir said it was up to the public to decide if this was acceptable.

"Well, it seems that the opposition wants Najib back. So it is up to them, but whether the people will accept it, that is another matter," he said.

On whether this was a sign of renewal in BN, Mahathir said: "That is a BN matter. Ask them."

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