Claiming to have youth support, PM says PN not to blame for Undi18 delay
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has dismissed criticism blaming his government for the delay in lowering the voting age to 18 to next year.
He said the government had no control over the matter as the Election Commission (EC) was the one in charge.
He said he even asked the EC if Undi18 could be implemented this September but was told it was not possible.
"Some say the Perikatan Nasional government...
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has dismissed criticism blaming his government for the delay in lowering the voting age to 18 to next year.
He said the government had no control over the matter as the Election Commission (EC) was the one in charge.
He said he even asked the EC if Undi18 could be implemented this September but was told it was not possible.
"Some say the Perikatan Nasional government is afraid. We are not afraid. In fact, I'm confident a large section of youths supports the government.
"So why are we being too emotional? The sooner (it is implemented) the better, but what can we do?" he was quoted as saying by FMT.
Muhyiddin said this at a press conference in Pagoh, Johor, today.
The EC on Thursday delayed the lowering of the voting age, together with the implementation of automatic voter registration from July this year, to after September next year.
The EC said the movement control order had affected its planning and preparations to lower the voting age.
Critics, however, argue there is no reason why the existing voter registration system can't be extended to 18-year-olds if automatic registration is not ready.
Thus far, the only ones to defend the delay were leaders from Bersatu and PAS.
Umno ministers Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Khairy Jamaluddin have pledged to raise the matter in the cabinet to press the EC to implement Undi18 as soon as possible.
The EC estimated that there are 1.2 million youths aged 18 to 20 currently.
Due to the delay, these youths will likely not be eligible to vote in the next general election, which Muhyiddin pledged to hold after the state of emergency ends in August.
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