ASAJAYA: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah fully supports the lowering of the legal voting age to 18 (Undi18) nationwide.
“We support those who are over 18 years old to be given the right to vote. Based on the Age Majority Act 1971, we can see that they have the required understanding and are recognised as adults at that age.
“Previously under the Elections Act 1958, the legal voting age was 21 years old. I am sure that lowering this to 18 years old is a good thing because we can see that the legal voting age in a majority of countries is 18 years old,” he said.
The Asajaya assemblyman said this after officiating at the handing over of excellent student awards to students of SMK Asajaya at Dewan Pejabat Daerah Asajaya, here on Wednesday (Oct 6).
He pointed out that Malaysians aged 18 and above, including those abroad, will be automatically registered as voters from December 31.
“Previously, any individual must first register in order to become a registered voter. If they are not registered even at the age of 25, they will not be allowed to vote in the elections.
“But the explanatory notes in the Bill that was passed in the 2019 Parliament Sitting states that the right to be a voter at the age of 18 is automatic,” he explained.
Abdul Karim added that the political literacy of those in the younger age groups tended to better those in the older ages, to which he said is a welcomed trait.
“However, maybe they do not have the level of political maturity that the older generation has. I hope that they will take initiative to delve into political knowledge and not be too quick to vote based on their emotions.
“They have to understand the basics of politics and know that the fate of the state and country for the next five years lies on their hands,” he added.
