JOHOR has the right to not lower the minimum age for its state assemblymen to 18 from 21 under its state constitution, said Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

But, he added, the same cannot be said for Johor folk contesting for a seat in Parliament.

He was clarifying Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s explanation on why the latter did not assent to the lowering of the minimum age for state assemblymen in the Johor State (Amendment) Enactment 2021.

“States can decide on state matters, but not federal matters,” said Wan Junaidi in Kuching, Sarawak, today.

Every state can decide on the minimum age of their respective assemblymen, he added.

“(All) states have the autonomy to decide, to agree or disagree.

“Johor, too, has the right to not pass any law to lower the minimum age of its assemblymen; it is its right under the Federal Constitution.”

Sultan Ibrahim said he does not consent to the lowering of the minimum age for state assemblymen when the bill was presented to him during the opening of the state assembly, saying that it is not in line with the direction of the government, which wants leaders who are knowledgeable and of high quality.

However, he said he supports lowering the voting age to 18.

The Federal Constitution was amended to reduce the age to vote and age for election candidates to 18 from 21 in 2019.

The Johor assembly approved a similar amendment its constitution soon after. – June 18, 2022.