03-29-2021, 07:37 PM
Kit Siang: Why is PAS president Hadi opposing Undi18 when 90pc of OIC states allow voting at 18?
KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang questioned today PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s support for delaying the enfranchisement of 18-year-olds, suggesting the latter’s 2019 vote for constitutional amendments to lower the voting age was insincere.
Lim quoted Hadi’s arguments that Malaysia should not be influenced by the Western concept of democracy where voting is based on age instead of maturity, as well as the idea that maturity can come at any age.
Lim also quoted Hadi’s arguments on the need for mature voters when the Islamist party’s president agreed with the Election Commission’s (EC) delayed implementation of allowing Malaysians aged 18 to sign up as voters.
However, Lim pointed out that almost all of the countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — in which Malaysia is a member — allow citizens as young as 18 to vote.
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