KUCHING, Oct 17: Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol opines that every higher learning institution (IPT) can be used as a polling centre for students.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), he said such an idea is timely to give emphasis on young voters to determine the future direction of Malaysia following the enforcement of Undi18.
Undi18 refers to the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18, which has been in effect since Jan 1 this year.
“Every IPT can be used as a polling station.
“It is to make it easier for tertiary education students to participate in the voting process in the 15th General Election (GE15).
“However, it depends on the consideration of the Election Commission (EC), which has the authority according to the Federal Constitution and the law,” he said in a special interview with TVS today.
Abdullah, also Semop assemblyman, further said that if schools can be used as polling centres, there should be no issue with using IPTs for the same purpose., I think the time has come for every IPT to be made into a polling centre so that it is easier for them to vote and they don’t have to go back to their respective hometowns because it might disrupt their study schedules and so on.
“It is also possible that they become early voters and so on, depending on the decision of the EC,” he added.
He also said that considering the large number of alma mater students across the country coupled with their maturity in politics at the tertiary education level, it is indeed a step forward to ensure that many young people are actively involved in making decisions about the future of the country.
“Thes also have their elections to choose leadership at the university level, so their political maturity has already started there,” he said. — DayakDaily
