DAP MP Lim Kit Siang lauded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statement yesterday, where the latter had declared that “nobody is above the law”.
“His call has reinforced our confidence that the prime minister will uphold rule of law and good governance principles.
“His remark had also boosted prospects of a confidence-supply-reform (CSA) agreement between the Government and Opposition,” he said in a statement.
Ismail Sabri made the call in a tweet, responding to the death of security guard S Thava Sagayam, who was warded for eight months following assault by a political party member.
“Justice must, and will take its course,” he tweeted yesterday.
On that note, Lim said that the Prime Minister has another test to endure in regards to upholding the law, following High Court’s instruction to the Government and Election Commission (EC) to implement Undi18 by end of the year.
He added that the Government should not appeal against the decision as Barisan Nasional (BN) itself had supported the constitutional amendment to lower voting age to 18 and implement automatic registration of voters back in 2019.
“If the EC cannot implement automatic registration of voters after 30 months, then it needs a new chairman who is more competent and IT-savvy.
Yesterday, the Kuching High Court ordered the Government to implement the lowering of voting age to 18 nationwide, by Dec 31.
Don’t appeal against Undi18 verdict
“This court finds it makes no sense that from 2019 to 2021, the respondents believed that it can be implemented by July 2021, then turned around and said that it could only be done by 2022.
“This is not only manifestly irrational but also illegal against the need to implement it (constitutional amendment to lower voting age to 18) by a convenient speed.
“The respondents’ case was also undermined by the minister’s (Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan) statements in March and May,” Liew said in a scathing verdict.
Despite the Undi18 law being passed and gazetted in 2019, the Perikatan Nasional Government, then led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, dilly-dallied on its implementation.
Lim, who is also the Iskandar Puteri MP, said that it would be ludicrous if the Government appeals against the decision as they supported the constitutional amendment while serving as Opposition, with Ismail Sabri leading the pact then.
“The Prime Minister should follow through what he had said then make sure his Government is true and loyal to his speech,” the DAP leader remarked. – Sept 4, 2021
