KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob expressed hope that youths will be more knowledgeable and concerned about the parliamentary democracy system and their role as young voters with the implementation of Undi 18 ahead of the next general election (GE).
He said youths play a big role in shaping the nation, especially in electing national leaders in line with the amendment to the Federal Constitution that guarantees their right to vote.
The number of youth voters, aged 21 to 40, in 2020 is 6.2 million people, which is 40.8 per cent of the total 15.3 million registered voters, he said in a message in conjunction with 2022 National Youth Day, themed ‘Ini Masa Kita’ which was broadcast on local television stations yesterday.
“On March 12, 2022, the country created a new history when youths were first given the right and mandate to vote in the Johor State Election which recorded an increase of about 28 per cent with the addition of almost 750,000 voters aged 18 and above, out of a total of 2.6 million registered voters, following the automatic registration under Undi 18,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the increasing involvement of young people in the country’s political arena was a positive sign and needed to be expanded widely.
According to the Prime Minister, youth leaders need to be aware of the enforcement of amendments to the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007 (Act 668) which involves lowering the maximum age limit in the definition of “youth”, from 40 to 30.
He said the implementation of the amendment to the law could boost the participation of more leaders under the age of 30, further giving space to the group to hone their leadership talents and seek experience as much as possible through the space provided. – BERNAMA
