IF our society considers 18-year-olds mature enough to be adults, then they also should be allowed to vote, said Pakatan Harapan lawmakers.

“There is a legal recognition and civil responsibility that our society (has already) attached to the age of 18.

“If you commit a crime, the full weight of the law is on you. If you sign a contract, you cannot make the excuse that you don’t know what you are signing.

“If you follow this (logic), they should also be allowed to (vote),” said Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng in a public forum at Universiti Malaya this afternoon.

Ng said a study on political apathy from Japan showed that when it lowered the voting age of 18, youth influenced their apathetic parents to vote.

PH Youth chief and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said it did not make sense that Malaysian society allows those above 18 to marry, work, join the army, drive, and more, but not to vote.

“There is a disconnect there,” he told the 80-odd youth audience.

“Some people say 18-year-olds are not ready, but I can also argue some people are still not ready at 50,” quipped the former Selangor executive councillor.

He said it was high time for Malaysia to update its laws.

“When we set the voting age at 21 in 1957, that was the norm for many countries, including the Commonwealth.

“Times have changed,” said Nik Nazmi.

The forum was co-organized by Undi 18 and Demokrat UM.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad brought up the proposal to lower the voting age to 18 last month.

Other PH MPs and social media users said the move must be accompanied by political and civic education.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he aims to get this done by the next election. – July 14, 2018.