THE Undi18 movement will be organising several programmes to engage with the youth in Sarawak after it was announced that voters aged 18-20 will not be able to vote in the upcoming state polls.

The group said it will not be protesting the decision but will instead be focusing its efforts on the general election. 

Undi18 co-founder Qyira Yusri said the Election Commission had announced that it would be using the updated electoral roll on November 2,.

“We don’t plan to protest this as EC has mentioned beforehand that it will use the second quarter updated electoral roll. 

“Instead, we are planning several activities leading up to the elections for young people to engage with the election process,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

Qyira said that even though 18 to 20-year-olds can’t vote in the state elections, it is important to ensure Sarawak youth participate in the process.

Yesterday, the government confirmed that youth aged 18 to 20 cannot vote in the Sarawak elections.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Undi18 and automatic voter registration will not be implemented in the state polls on December 18.

He said although the government has already gazetted the directive, the electoral roll would determine eligibility to vote in the state elections. 

Qyira said as part of the awareness process, they are planning several activities to engage with the youth.

“We’re planning to hold webinars with party candidates, monitor the political campaigns, and also recruit and train Sarawak youth to be election monitors. 

“This will be carried out by the Undi Sarawak team that will be organising the programmes and engaging with the youth.”

“Undi18 will continue to monitor the Sarawak elections closely and record incidences of voter disenfranchisement, especially by tracking the difficulty Sarawak youth face in returning home and vote.”

On whether the government has done enough to get Undi18 implemented, she said the government has not given a satisfactory answer for all the delays. 

“It’s astounding that the youth had to take to the streets and go to court to hold them accountable and get them to keep their promise,” she said.  

The electoral roll was certified prior to the proclamation of the dissolution of the Sarawak state assembly on November 3.

Wan Junaidi had said the decision is based on law, including the decision of the Kuching High Court to enforce Undi18.

On Wednesday, the government gazetted Undi18 and automatic voter registration. The amendment to voting rights will take effect on December 15 with the consent of the king, said the Federal Government Gazette dated December 1 published by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

This was after Wan Junaidi on September 7 told the EC to implement Undi18 by December 31, in accordance with the Kuching High Court order.

On September 6, the court ordered the EC and the government to implement Undi18 by the end of the year. – December 4, 2021.