FORMER Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak poured scorn on arguments that Undi18 had to be delayed as state constitutions need to be amended as well to lower voting age from 21 to 18.
“What needs to be amended at the state level is the minimum age to become state assemblyperson, from 21 to 18,” he said, in a Facebook post.
Two days ago, Senior Minister (International Trade and Industry) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali supported the Government’s move to delay Undi18 to mid next year, claiming the general election would only be called in 2023.
The Gombak MP added that the states would have to also amend their respective constitutions to lower the voting age to 18.
However, Najib had shot back then saying Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had repeatedly promised to call for snap polls as soon as COVID-19 comes under control, not until 2023.
The Undi18 legislation, or Constitutional (Amendment) Act 2019, was passed with unanimous support by all Dewan Rakyat members, at the behest of then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Under the legislation, which was already passed and gazetted by the Parliament, will allow automatic voter registration and reduce voting age from 21 to 18.
Touching on the matter, the Pekan MP reiterated that the decision making on voting age lies within Federal purview, under Article 119 of the Federal Constitution.
“The state governments have no jurisdiction on the matter,” he stated. – March 28,2021.
