Dr M, youth minister write to all MPs to rally support for lower voting age

KUALA LUMPUR — All Members of Parliament (MPs) have received separate personal letters from the Malaysian prime minister and youth and sports minister, calling on them to allow more Malaysians to take part in the country’s democratic process.

“Let us give more Malaysians, particularly the younger ones, the opportunity to directly take part in our country’s democratic process,” Dr Mahathir Mohamad said in his letter.

He said the young should not only be seen as the future of Malaysia but should be recognised as important partners in nation-building.

“This group should be allowed to directly participate in the democratic process through the ballot box,” said the world’s oldest prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said he believed that younger Malaysians had the ability to make rational and wise decisions.

“Their age does not mean they do not possess the maturity to contribute to nation-building,” said the 94-year-old.

Dr Mahathir’s letter, dated June 28, was placed on all MPs’ tables this morning, the eve of the second reading of the bill to amend articles 119 (1) (a) and 47 of the federal constitution.

Barisan Nasional’s Ahmad Nazlan Idris confirmed receiving the letter.

“I got the letter from the prime minister. It was placed on my table,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The last-ditch effort comes as Pakatan Harapan seeks to avert a repeat of its last failed bid to amend the constitution in April.

The ruling coalition only has 139 MPs on its side and need another nine votes from the opposition to amend the supreme law of the land.

The April vote was to revert Sabah and Sarawak’s constitutional standing to be equal to the peninsula, but opposition MPs, even from those two states, refused to cast their ballots in a partisan move to frustrate the government. 

The Article 119 (1) (a) amendment, which will be tabled tomorrow, would allow 18-year-olds to vote while the Article 47 amendment will allow them to contest in elections.

Alongside Dr Mahathir’s letter was Mr Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s.

 “Although, different in terms of political ideology, we all believe that youth mature enough and can decide the direction of the country during elections.”

Mr Syed Saddiq, who became the youngest minister at 25, said 95 per cent of the world’s nations have lowered the voting age to 18.

“With this change, there will be an additional 3.7 million Malaysians who are eligible to vote. This means that the voice of younger Malaysians can no longer be ignored in the next elections,” wrote the Muar MP in his letter.

Dr Mahathir closed his letter by saying he hoped the MPs support the amendment to Article 119 (1) (a).

“I sincerely hope that you will join me and other MPs to rewrite history on that day,” said Dr Mahathir. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT