THE government has confirmed that youth aged 18 to 20 cannot vote in the upcoming Sarawak state election.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Undi 18 and automatic voter registration will not be implemented in the state polls, which will be held on December 18.

He said, although the government has already gazetted the directive, eligibility to vote in the state elections would be determined from the electoral roll on November 2, this year.

“There is no pressure from any party on this issue. In fact, Sarawak is already ready to accept these young voters,” he said in a statement today.

The electoral roll was certified prior to the proclamation of the dissolution of the 11th Sarawak state legislative assembly on November 3, 2021, in accordance with regulation 9 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2002.

Wan Junaidi said the decision is based law, including the decision by Kuching High Court to allow Undi 18, and not to deny young people their right to vote.

Yesterday, Undi 18 and automatic voter registration was gazetted. The amendment to voting rights will take effect on December 15 after obtaining the consent of the king, stated in the Federal Government Gazette dated December 1 and published by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

This was following Wan Junaidi’s September 7 instruction to the Election Commission (EC) to implement Undi 18 by December 31, in accordance with Kuching High Court’s ruling.

On September 6, the court ordered the EC and the government to implement Undi 18 by the end of the year. – December 2, 2021.