KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth said it supported the move to politically empower the younger generation but expressed concern over the automatic voter registration move.
The movement feared that the exercise would favour only the cities and major towns due to the rural-urban migration, said its chief Gerald Rentap Jabu.
He was asked to comment on the constitutional amendment to reduce the voting age to 18 and allow for the automatic registration of all voters as soon as they become eligible to vote.
“We fully support the amendment to let the younger generation to be politically empowered. This will give them the chances and venue to voice their concerns and aspirations.
“At the same time, it will also create political awareness and maturity to chart our nation’s path,” he said.
Rentap added that the decline in population in the rural areas would not give a clear indication on how the younger generation wanted their ancestral and traditional homes to benefit.
“We are concerned that it might affect mainstream developments as they will be concentrated in major towns,” he lamented.
Given the scenario, Rentap suggested that the youth should be given a chance to choose where they wanted to vote and contribute to society.
“This rural-urban must also be addressed or else those in the rural areas will not get the benefit and quality of services compared to those in major towns. Development must be balanced,” he said.
