Singapore is now the LEAST democratic country in the WHOLE of Southeast Asia:
"With the exception of Singapore - which still maintains a 21-year voting age - most people in Southeast Asia can vote when they turn 18. The voting age in Indonesia is 17."
================
Malaysia's parliament approves Bill to lower voting age to 18
Malaysia flag
A woman poses for a picture in front of a national flag ahead of the Malaysia’s 56th Independence Day celebrations in downtown Kuala Lumpur on Aug 20, 2013. (Photo: AFP/Mohd Rasfan)
16 Jul 2019 07:29PM (Updated: 16 Jul 2019 07:51PM)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's parliament on Tuesday (Jul 16) approved a Bill to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
After several hours of debate, 211 out of 222 members of parliament voted in favour of amending Malaysia's federal constitution, allowing the changes to be introduced. No objections were recorded.
Two-thirds of the lower house's lawmakers needed to back constitutional changes in order for them to pass. The amendments will still have to be debated and passed in the country's senate before it can become law.
The overhaul was championed by the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, about a year after it came to power by defeating a long-ruling coalition.
Speaking in the lower house of parliament before MPs voted, Mahathir argued that young people in Malaysia were more politically aware than in the past.
"This move is so that they be given the chance, space and voice to ... design the country's democracy through elections," he told lawmakers.
The reforms will also allow 18-year-olds to stand for election.
In addition, the amendments introduced automatic voter registration, with citizens eligible to cast their ballots as soon as they turn 18. Previously, people had to apply to get their names on the electoral roll.
Mahathir said that as many as 7.8 million people would be added to the electoral roll by the year 2023 through the move, bringing the country's total number of voters to 22.7 million.
Nearly 12.3 million people voted in the 2018 elections, from a total electorate of 14.9 million people.
Malaysia's population is around 32 million people.
With the exception of Singapore - which still maintains a 21-year voting age - most people in Southeast Asia can vote when they turn 18. The voting age in Indonesia is 17.
The parliamentary vote represented a victory for Malaysia's four-party Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition, which has faced a series of setbacks, including losing several local elections.
Source: AFP/CNA/ad/zl
Tagged Topics
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...roves-bill-to-lower-voting-age-to-18-11725452
"With the exception of Singapore - which still maintains a 21-year voting age - most people in Southeast Asia can vote when they turn 18. The voting age in Indonesia is 17."
================
Malaysia's parliament approves Bill to lower voting age to 18
Malaysia flag
A woman poses for a picture in front of a national flag ahead of the Malaysia’s 56th Independence Day celebrations in downtown Kuala Lumpur on Aug 20, 2013. (Photo: AFP/Mohd Rasfan)
16 Jul 2019 07:29PM (Updated: 16 Jul 2019 07:51PM)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's parliament on Tuesday (Jul 16) approved a Bill to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
After several hours of debate, 211 out of 222 members of parliament voted in favour of amending Malaysia's federal constitution, allowing the changes to be introduced. No objections were recorded.
Two-thirds of the lower house's lawmakers needed to back constitutional changes in order for them to pass. The amendments will still have to be debated and passed in the country's senate before it can become law.
The overhaul was championed by the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, about a year after it came to power by defeating a long-ruling coalition.
Speaking in the lower house of parliament before MPs voted, Mahathir argued that young people in Malaysia were more politically aware than in the past.
"This move is so that they be given the chance, space and voice to ... design the country's democracy through elections," he told lawmakers.
The reforms will also allow 18-year-olds to stand for election.
In addition, the amendments introduced automatic voter registration, with citizens eligible to cast their ballots as soon as they turn 18. Previously, people had to apply to get their names on the electoral roll.
Mahathir said that as many as 7.8 million people would be added to the electoral roll by the year 2023 through the move, bringing the country's total number of voters to 22.7 million.
Nearly 12.3 million people voted in the 2018 elections, from a total electorate of 14.9 million people.
Malaysia's population is around 32 million people.
With the exception of Singapore - which still maintains a 21-year voting age - most people in Southeast Asia can vote when they turn 18. The voting age in Indonesia is 17.
The parliamentary vote represented a victory for Malaysia's four-party Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition, which has faced a series of setbacks, including losing several local elections.
Source: AFP/CNA/ad/zl
Tagged Topics
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...roves-bill-to-lower-voting-age-to-18-11725452
