MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has confirmed that youths aged 18 to 20 cannot vote in the upcoming Sarawak state election.
This is despite the Undi18 constitutional amendments to lower the voting age and the implementation of automatic voter registration which will take effect on Dec 15 – three days before polling in Sarawak.
In a statement, Wan Junaidi explained that for the state election, they will use the electoral roll that was updated on Nov 2.
He denied that this was meant to disenfranchise youth voters.
“This decision is based on the legal process, including the decision made by the Kuching High Court, and is not meant to deny or sidestep the rights and desires of youths aged 18 and above to vote,” Wan Junaidi was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini.
“I wish to clarify that there is no pressure from anyone in this issue. Sarawak is ready to accept youth voters. I hope this issue is not politicised,” he said.
Wan Junaidi is a member of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) which is the incumbent Sarawak state government.
The Sarawak polls was supposed to be held in the middle of this year but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic after a localised 2022, giving hope that 18-year-olds could vote in the state election.
However, the state emergency was lifted in early November, a move critics claim was done to prevent youth participation in the state polls. – Dec 2, 2021
Photo credit: Malaysiakini
