REMOVING the racial identity of voters on the electoral roll is one of the changes the Election Commission is considering, its chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said.

It is a weighty decision that needs careful consideration, he said in a radio interview with BFM.

“We have been talking a long time about whether race should even be included in our identification card. 

“Now we have to confront the question of whether race should be done away altogether in the electoral roll.  

“We need to think about this in depth and see why we need the race there and if it is needed at all,” he told BFM today.

Azhar said deletion of the race box was on the EC’s reform agenda. 

On the legal voting age, Azhar said 18 is a good age to vote as the youth in today’s technologically advanced era can think.

“There are 40-year-olds who are not yet adult. There will be pros and cons. 

“Due to the standard of education that all of us enjoy nowadays, and the exposure we have via broadband and the internet, I think the level of thinking and the level of education have really improved compared to (when I was growing up).”. 

Azhar added there are countries where 17 is the legal voting age. 

“In Indonesia, the voting age is 17 or if you’re married. If you’re married at 12 in Indonesia, you can vote. 

“I suppose the rationale is if you can choose your spouse, you can choose your MP. Eighteen is a good age.” 

Parliament is expected to vote on lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 during session in progress. 

Meanwhile, the EC is in discussion with the Election Reform Committee to automatically register Malaysians aged 21 as voters. 

Azhar said that was not easily implemented because citizenship is not the only requirement to vote, under the federal constitution. 

“We have engaged on this issue recently and I think a proposal will be ready soon.” – March 11, 2019.