WARISAN chief Mohd Shafie Apdal today urged the Election Commission (EC) to stand its ground on the implementation of Undi 18 and not let it be influenced by any political leaders. 

He said Perikatan Nasional was now flip-flopping over the ruling to lower the minimum voting and election candidacy age to 18, although the bill was unanimously passed in Parliament and gazetted in 2019.

“Lowering the voting and election candidacy age to 18 was the best gift to the youth given by the former government,” the former Sabah chief minister said in a statement. 

The Semporna MP said the current government’s stance on not implementing Undi 18 showed they do not see youth as being important for democracy. 

He said automatic registration of voters would motivate youth to be a part of an important decision such as electing a government. 

He added that this was also an opportunity for the government to attract the 4.2 million youth aged 21 and above who have yet to register as voters, to exercise their rights at the ballot box. 

Therefore, he said the EC should be firm with implementing the ruling. 

“Any delays in the process will affect the mood of the youth to participate in the recovery process of the country’s democracy,” he said. 

“I am confident with the maturity and considerations of youth in making a decision at the ballots,” he added. 

He said this was not a question of giving them the freedom to choose but returning their rights, which has been taken away. 

Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim recently said it was impractical to lower the voting age to 18 for now because it will take too much time and resources.

The Bersatu man said it would take time to identify the 18-year-olds who were eligible to vote and their constituencies.

He also said the exercise would take up the resources of both the National Registration Department and the EC. 

“On the issue of 18-year-olds voting, whether we can implement it now, the answer is no. Although it has been passed in terms of the legislature, in terms of readiness there are many gaps. 

“After looking at the real situation from the lens of the Dewan Negara, it’s impractical to be implemented in this season,” he had said. 

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 passed the Dewan Negara in July 2019 and was gazetted two months later. 

The EC had said previously that the law as well as the new automatic voter registration would be implemented in July this year. – March 14, 2021.