Youth sue PM, EC- FOR RIGHT TO VOTE BY JULY
By; Thanu Hari
KUALA LUMPUR, APRIL 3 – A symbolic 18 Malaysian youths sued the Prime Minister, the federal government and the Election Commission (EC) today in a bid to ensure that those who are aged between 18 to 20 can be registered to vote by July 2021 instead of only after September next year.
In their lawsuit filed today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur via a judicial review application, the 18 youths sought 14 court orders. This has included a declaration that the government’s action of lowering the voting age from 21 is showing that it is irrational, illegal, and disproportionate.
They are also seeking a court to cancel the government’s decision to delay the implementation of the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. The Election Commission (EC) made an announcement on 25th March saying that the lowering age will be implemented after September 2022, this means that only Malaysians aged above 21 can be registered to vote.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of the Undi18 movement was announced by two of the 18 youths, namely student activist Nurul Rifayah and a Sarawakian youth leader Rifqi Faisal who are both aged 18. Rifqi, who is co-founder of education reform advocacy group MYER Movement, said that all of these 18 youths are co founders or leaders of movements or community leaders.
As for why the lawsuit specifically asked for the minimum voting age in Malaysia to be lowered from 21 to 18 by July 2021, lawyer Lim Wei Jiet said this was the timeline mentioned by the Malaysian government previously. The co-founder of Undi18 movement’s is Qyira Yusri, who was also present at the press conference , said the 18 youths who filed the lawsuit range from those who are currently in university to those who sat for their SPM examination a few weeks ago. If the lowering of the voting age is implemented by July 2021, Qyira said youths aged between 18 and 20 should be able to register to vote immediately, but that the actual time when they would be able to cast their vote would depend on the gazetting of the electoral rolls. She also added “ using the existing system that we have, the electoral roll will be updated every three months, so it would depend on when they are registered to vote.
Besides that, she also mentioned that “ which is why we are asking – in light of so much political instability and there have been statements that an election will be called immediately after the Emergency in August – for young people to be allowed to vote today, so they can prepare themselves for the election.
Moreover, the co-founder of Undi18 Movements Tharma Pillai said democracy is not just about petty political scandals, but also involves matters such as the minimum wage, owning reasonable policies, and being able to live with dignity. He also said that “Young Malaysians have a right to choose leaders that represent their vision for a better Malaysia.
Let them vote! They also have created a website for the Malaysians which will helps them to collect fund for youths and also selling T-shirts which highlights their # ManaUndiKami campaign at RM 40, with all proceeds going towards legal costs for the lawsuit.
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