UNDI18: Rais Yatim's statement misleading, violating Federal Constitution - Syed Saddiq

KUALA LUMPUR: The statement by Dewan Negara Speaker, Tan Sri Rais Yatim, that Malaysia is not ready to give 18 -year-olds the eligibility to vote, is a deception and violates the Federal Constitution, said Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

According to the Member of Parliament for Muar, approval has already been obtained at the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara besides the consent of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Thus, the former Youth and Sports Minister said, Rais' claim that the Election Commission (EC) was not ready was also misleading, what more that the commission had already issued a statement that the implementation process was running according to the set timeline.

“I met the Members of Parliament one by one, from the government or the opposition. It has also been successfully approved in the Dewan Negara and have already received support of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Only when Tan Sri Rais said it would take a long time to implement, this is a big lie. Because when we consult with the EC, the Attorney General, the reality of implementing and enforcing the Undi 18 can be done tomorrow,” he said in an interview with Buletin Awani on Friday.

On Wednesday, Rais was reported as saying that the eligibility to vote in the GE at the age of 18, which was supposed to take effect this July, could not be continued even though the Dewan Rakyat had approved the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019.

The former Jelebu Member of Parliament said there were various constraints towards its implementation before the country was really ready to allow voter registration as early as that age.

In this regard, Syed Saddiq demanded an explanation from the relevant parties whether the statement by the Dewan Negara Speaker represented the stand of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and the Perikatan Nasional as the Federal government.

"Is this the stand of Bersatu and the stand of the Perikatan Nasional government? Inform the people. Don't blame the EC because I know they are trying to blame the EC.

"The EC has officially answered it is on track and suddenly he said no. We want to know if this is the stand of Bersatu and the stand of the Perikatan Nasional government, inform the people so that the people would know what to do," said Syed Saddiq.