By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Nov 2: “Do not be disheartened, you can still vote in the 15th General Election,” Sarawak Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told youths aged between 18 and 31 in Sarawak today.
Although the Undi18 law has finally been gazetted, 18-year-old Malaysians will not be allowed to vote in the 12th Sarawak Election this Dec 18.
“Even though the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2019 that reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 was gazetted on Nov 25, it only comes into effect on Dec 15, following the consent from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al — Mustafa Billah Shah.
“The implementation date is only from January next year because on Sept 3, the Kuching High Court ordered the Election Commission (EC) and the government to implement Undi 18 after Dec 31, 2021,” Abdul Karim explained after attending the welcoming ceremony for the Malaysia Airlines inaugural direct flight MH2721 from Penang to Kuching today.
He added that furthermore, according to EC, the 12th Sarawak election will use the Q2/2021 electoral roll that was updated as of Nov 2.
The Sarawak legislative assembly was dissolved on Nov 3.
The EC has set the nomination date on Dec, 6 followed by polling on Dec 18. — DayakDaily
