OPPOSITION MPs have agreed in principle to lower the voting age to 18, but the conditions attached to their votes for the bill make its passage uncertain.

The government is to table the bill to amend Article 119(1) for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today, after which it will be up for subsequent readings and debate. 

The bill will require two-thirds of the MPs’ votes to pass but Pakatan Harapan, even with its allies in Sabah, is nine short of the threshold.

This will be the second time the government is attempting to amend the constitution, after failing in April to garner support for a bill to make Sabah and Sarawak equal in status with Peninsular Malaysia.

While MPs in Barisan Nasional and PAS were positive about lowering the voting age, Gabungan Parti Sarawak was more coy, hinting that some conditions had to be fulfilled first.

“If they can get married at 18, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be allowed to vote. Why should we be prejudiced against the 18-year-olds?” said Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz

“And if we want to question their maturity, some of our own MPs behave even more immaturely,” the six-term lawmaker told The Malaysian Insight.

Nazri said as a result of the national schooling system which ends at 17 or 18, many young people are starting work that age. As such, there is little reason to deny young people the vote.

Baling MP Azeez Rahim, however, said the government should introduce automatic voter registration (AVR) before lowering the voting age.

“Currently, there are almost four million unregistered voters. The Election Commission should look at AVR first. It’s not that I don’t agree that the voting age should be lowered but the government should address the AVR issue first.”

The Umno Supreme Council member said AVR would enable the authorities to fine eligible voters who do not vote.

“Only Singapore and Malaysia don’t have AVR at the moment,” said Azeez.

Opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob and PAS president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a press conference also called for automatic voter registration to be introduced first. 

They said the government must support their suggestion for AVR if it wanted their votes for the bill to lower the voting age.

Another Umno lawmaker, Ahmad Maslan also tied voting at 18 to AVR.

“I would be willing to back the amendment if the government can give some kind of assurance that it will also have AVR,” the Pontian MP told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the government could still take up the opposition’s suggestion during the later stages of the bill’s passage.

“I hope Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will give some kind of promise,” Ahmad said.

Gabungan Parti Sarawak whip Fadillah Yusof, however, was more ambiguous about the second biggest opposition bloc’s support for the bill.

“In principle we support it but with conditions,” said the Petra Jaya MP, who declined to elaborate what the conditions were.

“Just wait and see during the debate,” he added.

His colleague, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar expressed his support for the bill but stated AVR must come first.  

“My stand is very simple, we have to agree, but we must have a condition, which is to have AVR,” the Santubong MP said.

Tumpat MP Che Abdullah Mat Nawi of PAS said a briefing for the MPs on the bill yesterday did not see anyone objecting.

“I’m not sure what will happen in Dewan Rakyat later but there were no objections (at the briefing). So far, the feedback looks good.”

The special briefing yesterday was held by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman in the Parliament building.

The opposition bloc emerged from the briefing with the announcement of their support for the bill, on the condition that AVR should also be listed among the amendments to the bill.

They also want Article 47 to be amended to lower the age of eligible candidates for the Dewan Rakyat from 21 to 18. – July 4, 2019.