Syed Saddiq tables amendment bill to lower voting age

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 4 Jul 2019 12:44PM · 0 Comments

Sports and Youth Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman says successful passage of the bill will give more Malaysians the right to pick the government via elections as practised in progressive democracies. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 4, 2019.

THE government today tabled an amendment bill to lower the voting age to 18.

The amendment was tabled by Sports and Youth Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman at the end of the question-and-answer session at 11.50am.

The bill seeks “to amend Article 119(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution by substituting the words ‘twenty-one years old’ with ’18 years old’.

“With this amendment, more Malaysian citizens would be entitled to vote and elect a government through an election which is in line with a progressive democratic system,” the minister said.

The motion was supported by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hanipa Maidin.

Debate over the bill is expected to take place on July 16. – July 4, 2019. 

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