MP SPEAKS | EC, PM must explain why they are stifling voting rights of youth

MP SPEAKS | The government has already heard from the Election Commission (EC) and the prime minister (PM) has already accepted their explanation for the delay in lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. The people now deserve to know what he has heard and what he has agreed to.

What reasons were given for the implementation of the Undi18 initiative to take such a long time when it was already approved by both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara with an overwhelming majority?

The EC now seems to be handicapped and is incapable of carrying out what has already been passed in Parliament. Why is that so? Is the EC acting on its own or is it acting under strict orders from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government?

The EC and PM have a duty to the people, especially the youth, to come out and explain why they have deferred Undi18.

It is laughable when the PM says he is not afraid of youth votes. If you are not afraid, you have no reason to stop their votes and their voices.

It is plain to see that the PN government is worried that the youth vote will not go to them and therefore will go to lengths to ensure they do not get to vote.

As of 2021, Malaysia will remain in an exclusive group of fewer than 20 countries around the world that has a voting age of 19 and above.

There are some progressive countries around the world that allow citizens aged 16 to vote. We should look to emulate that and not move in the wrong direction.

I will fully back any effort to empower the youth to vote in the upcoming general election. All excuses given by certain political parties and the EC to not implement Undi18 are utter rubbish.

M KULA SEGARAN is the MP for Ipoh Barat, the national vice-chairperson for the DAP, and a former human resources minister.