PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has agreed to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said yesterday. He said an amendment to the Federal Constitution had to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat for the decision to take effect.
Syed Saddiq said he would work towards securing the two-thirds majority by meeting up with MPs from among the youths regardless of their political parties to set up a youth caucus.
“The youth caucus will enable the obtaining of input from the young MPs of every party, not only on the voting age but other issues involving youths as well,” he said at a post-Cabinet press conference here.
He also said that he would set up a committee comprising the youth chiefs of all political parties in the country to discuss the motion on the new voting age. “We need their support. The voting age of 18 has been longawaited by young Malaysians.
Although we have different political views, I am sure we can be united in youth empowerment,” he said. Asked whether the proposed amendment to the Fede ra l Constitution would be tabled at the next session of the Dewan Rakyat, Syed Saddiq said the matter had to be discussed with all the stakeholders. The minister said he was confident the voting age of 18 could be implemented in the 15th general election. GE15 is due in 2023.
“I had informal discussions with opposition leaders and they are keen for it,” he said, adding that even the UMNO president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) had recently announced that UMNO would lower the membership age from 18 to 16. Syed Saddiq said he had also met the Election Commission and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to secure agreement on the proposed motion on the voting age. – Bernama
