Warisan joins chorus for EC to buck up on Undi18
Any delay to implement Undi18 in the 15th general election will affect the mood of the youth to get involved in the recovery of the country's democratic system, said Warisan president Shafie Apdal.
The Semporna lawmaker's statement came after Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican today urged the Election Commission (EC) to explain the progress of Undi18.
Shafie reiterated that the EC should clarify the implementation of lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 without the influence of any...
Any delay to implement Undi18 in the 15th general election will affect the mood of the youth to get involved in the recovery of the country's democratic system, said Warisan president Shafie Apdal.
The Semporna lawmaker's statement came after Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican today urged the Election Commission (EC) to explain the progress of Undi18.
Shafie reiterated that the EC should clarify the implementation of lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 without the influence of any political party.
"I am confident with the youth's maturity and consideration to make a decision at the ballot box.
"This is not about giving them the freedom, but this is about their right which was snatched from them and should be returned," he said.
In November last year, de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan had stated that Undi18 and automatic voter registration were expected to be completed by July 2021.
However, Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim had ruffled the feathers of many parties hopeful to see Undi18 materialise when he said that those aged 18 were not yet ready to fully commit to their democratic rights in life.
Rais had implied that the decision to lower the voting age was a hasty one by the Pakatan Harapan administration.
Shafie stressed that the Perikatan Nasional government's flip-flop on Undi18 indicated that the youth are not important in the practice of the democratic system in the country.
The government, he said, should take the opportunity to encourage 4.2 million youth aged 21 and above who have yet to be registered as voters to vote through the implementation of automatic voter registration.
