For us in the state’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we have no issue with the voting age being lowered to 18 ahead of the next general election. I spoke on my personal opinion on this matter during yesterday’s session with our media friends who highlighted this matter since the law (to lower the voting age) had been passed with an overwhelming majority in Parliament.
I have mentioned that it should not be a problem so long as it can be implemented (in an) orderly (manner) and many have registered to vote. Being the vice-president of
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president, I said that the matter would be up to the Election Commission (EC) to decide whether the country was ready to implement the lowering of the voting age for the next general election.
Our media friends had inquired on this because it is reported that the amendment to the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age to 18 is already in the implementation stage, following it passing in Parliament in 2019 with 211 MPs across political divides supporting the amended Bill.
Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, however, had recently said that it was ‘impractical’ to lower the voting age for now due to the challenges faced by the relevant implementing agencies. It is an interesting issue and it had stirred the sentiments among our young generation of voters simply because they are looking for to exercising their voting rights in a democratic country.
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