KUCHING, Feb 16: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii is pushing for the implementation of the Undi 18 amendment which was passed with bipartisan support in 2019.
He believed that Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican should give clear assurance that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is still committed to implementing the Undi 18 amendments to allow more youth to be part of the electoral process.
“It is disheartening to hear a statement from the Deputy Minister (of Youth and Sports) YB Wan Ahmad Fayshal stating that youth are not ready to vote which puts the current historic Undi 18 amendments in limbo even after two years since it received unanimous support from both the government and opposition under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government even in the midst of a highly partisan political climate.
“By right, a young leader such as himself should have been at the forefront to push for such empowerment agenda and for youth to have a bigger say in our country’s democratic process, rather than playing-down the readiness and role of the youth that he supposedly represents,” said Dr Yii in a statement today
He noted that among the arguments most commonly against Undi 18 is that the young people, especially 18-year-olds, are not mature enough.
“The fact is, in our country, under the Age of Majority Act 1971, 18-year-olds are considered ‘adults’, assuming full legal capacity and are liable for their own actions,” said Dr Yii.
He pointed out that in Malaysia, at 17, a person can get a driving licence, while an 18-year-old is allowed to get married, work and pay taxes, enter into contractual obligations, or even serve the country in high-risk jobs such as joining the police force, fire brigade and the army.
To him, if 18-year-olds are mature enough to pick up arms to defend the country, it is then illogical to say that they are not mature enough to decide who runs the government, adding that from this perspective, they can no longer disenfranchise 3.8 million adults from the formal democratic process of the country.
Dr Yii believe that youth empowerment should be central to the government’s agenda and they must embody the fact that the youth are not just the leaders of the future but are also the leaders of today.
“We have seen so many young people across the globe taking to the frontlines to take up responsibility to lead and make a change for their country. Young Malaysians are capable of doing so, and they deserve every opportunity of doing so.
“That is why I urge the current PN government not to delay the gazettement and implementation of Undi 18 any longer. We need to push for more progressive, more constructive, and more participatory politics as we welcome our youth into the arena,” said Dr Yii. — DayakDaily
