KUCHING: Members of the Malaysian community who have achieved the age of 18 should be granted the right to vote, voiced the majority of the public.
In response to the proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18, Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) secretary David Hii Chin Loung shared the association’s supportive view, citing that 18 was the most common minimum voting age in the world.
“In Malaysia, 18-year-olds are considered adults. They do not require legal consent from their parents or guardians, and they have the legal capacity to enter into agreements on their own. Thus, it is only logical that they should be given the right to vote as well,” he said.
In addition, he stated that it was important that youths took an interest in current political issues for the betterment of the country, and this amendment of minimum voting age could be the first step in the development of this interest.
“We urge lawmakers to put aside their political difference and give the younger generation of Malaysia a chance to be heard,” Hii said on behalf of SPA.
A senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sarawak campus), Dr Ang Chung Huap, opined that the majority of youths these days were able to make rational justifications on information they receive.
However, he expressed his concerned view that our country’s current voting system did not reflect the concept of a real democracy.
“We need to focus on a more effective voting system by reviewing and correcting wrongdoings during the past redelineation in order to prevent any gerrymandering in upcoming elections.
“In addition, the government should also consider the possibility of a more proportionate voting system which would award seats to parties based on the number of votes gained. This would provide the opportunity for smaller parties to join parliamentary debates,” said Dr Ang told New Sarawak Tribune.
Another interviewee, research and development officer Alan Chua Yee Quan, 26, pointed out that the youths of today had better access to current news and information via search engines, online news portals and mobile apps. Thus, traditional thinkers should not underestimate the opinions of the younger generation.
“I recall that during my teenage years, my friends and I would read the news every day to better understand the current situation of our society, as well as how government policies could impact our futures,” he elaborated.
Chua also added that if Malaysian youths were allowed to experience the election process at 18 years of age before going abroad for their studies, they would be less inclined to forget their duties as Malaysians and instead they would be more interested in the growth of the nation.
Alexa Khung Ai Foong, a 19-year-old air stewardness, also shared her opinion on the matter, saying, “I think it is a good thing that people around my age will be able to vote. As the saying goes, our future lies in the hands of the younger generation.”
She also added that she felt the government should have pushed this initiative much earlier, but the fact that it was being considered now was a positive step.
