Minister: Govt confident Undi18 can be implemented before GE15
KOTA BARU: The lowering of Malaysians’ voting age to 18, or Undi18, is expected to be implemented by year end, said Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
The minister in the Prime Minister ’s Department (Parliament and Law) said the government was confident that it could be implemented by the 15th General Election (GE15).
“The government guarantees that Undi18 will be implemented as soon as possible, if possible in July this year. Once implemented, Undi18 can be used during the general, state or by-election. We are speeding up the process and the government will do what is best for the country regarding this matter.”
Takiyuddin, who is Kota Baru member of parliament, said this after presenting Hari Raya Aidilfitri donations to imam and village heads in his constituency here yesterday.
He said the Election Commission (EC) would take immediate steps to resolve matters related to certain legal provisions, as well as technical matters.
The implementation of Undi18 follows the amendment of Article 119 of the Federal Constitution, which was unanimously agreed upon by Parliament in 2019.
The minimum voting age was lowered to 18 from 21 when the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on July 16, 2019. It was followed by approval by the Dewan Negara on July 25, 2019.
Although the government had said Undi18 was expected to be implemented by July this year, the EC, on March 25, said it could be done only after Sept 1 next year.
EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said preparations had been hampered by the pandemic, forcing it to delay the implementation to September next year at the earliest.