The Cabinet Has Agreed To Lowering The Minimum Age Of Voting To 18
The proposal now awaits a constitutional amendment.
By Jia Vern Tham — 19 Sep 2018, 06:24 PM
After an agreement in the Cabinet to lower the voting age today, 19 September, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is confident that 18-year-old Malaysians will be able to cast their votes in the 15th General Election
"By the next general election, 18-year-olds can cast their votes, that is for certain," Syed Saddiq was quoted as saying by The Star.
Free Malaysia Today reported that the Cabinet agreed on lowering the minimum voting age to 18 earlier today after consulting Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.
The proposal now awaits a constitutional amendment
"The change requires two-thirds majority in Parliament, and I will be meeting with youth leaders of all parties represented in Parliament to get their support on the (constitutional) amendment," the Muar Member of Parliament (MP) was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.
He added that the amendment will permit Malaysian youths to have a direct say in the country's administration.
Malaysiakini reported Syed Saddiq as announcing his intention to form a youth caucus in Parliament.
"The youth caucus will enable the obtaining of input from the youth MPs of every party, not only on the voting age, but other issues involving youths as well," the Youth and Sports Minister said.
Once gazetted into law, Malaysia will join at least nine other countries with a voting age of 18
According to The Star, the countries that currently have a voting age of 18 include:
- United States,
- United Kingdom,
- Australia,
- India,
- Iran,
- Indonesia,
- Philippines,
- Thailand,
- and Cambodia.
In Malaysian law, 18-year-olds are empowered to sign contracts, get married, or take driving tests.