Postponement of Undi18: Give reasonable reasons or resign - Asyraf Wajdi

KUALA LUMPUR: The UMNO Youth Movement urges the Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) to give a reasonable reason following the postponement of automatic voter registration and Undi18 and not to make the COVID-19 pandemic an excuse.

Its chief, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, stressed that such excuses looked as if they were trying to fool the people.

"It seems like there's that sort of a trend these days. When we can't implement something or do something that upsets the people, we will use the COVID-19 pandemic excuse as a way to avoid taking real responsibility.

"I think such excuses must be stopped immediately because the fact is that we look like we are fooling the people because the most important thing is that we have to explain in detail about this pandemic, and how it is an obstacle if it is truly an obstacle," he told Astro AWANI when contacted on Friday.

On Thursday, the EC said that the automatic voter registration and Undi18 could only be implemented after September 1, 2022, thus it could not be implemented in July this year as initially expected.

Its chairman, Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh, said the period was made after re-evaluating various constraints and issues that had affected the EC's initial planning and preparations, including the outbreak of COVID-19.

In this regard, Asyraf Wajdi stressed that the chairman of the body should resign if he does not succeed in presenting the appropriate reasons.

"Postponing until 2022 is a difficult thing for young people and the people in particular to accept because the promises made by the government must be seen by the people as a promise that needs to be fulfilled.

"Pemuda wants the EC chairman to take responsibility because if he fails to implement what the legislature has set and according to the timeline set by the government and if he cannot give a reasonable reason, then out of a sense of responsibility and dignity, the EC chairman must resign," he said.

He added that the decision to postpone Undi18 only reflects the government's fear of young people's votes.

"I am not sure that the government under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin has a perception and attitude towards young people. However, what is certain is that such delays are done for unreasonable reasons or not convincing young people on the grounds of COVID-19.

"It just gives the wrong signal that it is as if the government is afraid and intimidated by the young people's vote. The government should avoid it because otherwise, it will alienate young people from the government," he added.

Therefore, UMNO Youth gave time to the EC to give a reasonable reason on the matter and return to the timeline that has been decided at the Parliamentary level.

"If it doesn't happen, UMNO Youth feels it is reasonable that the EC leadership must take responsibility for failing to do what two-thirds of the Members of Parliament or the legislature have decided," he said.