INTERN DESK | Recently, the Election Commission (EC) has issued a statement declaring that the lowering of the legal voting age and the implementation of automatic voter registration shall be delayed from the previously agreed date of September of 2021 to October of 2022. This has caused a stir in youths as well as numerous youth rights advocacy groups. Their anger is further amplified by the fact that they had and have no say in the implementation of this bill and how they feel ignored by this action, which ironically is an issue which should have been addressed with the passing of this bill.
Following this news, a group of 18 individuals from various youth advocacy groups have banded together to sue the government, under the name of the Undi18 movement. I recently had the privilege to have a conversation with one of the individuals participating in this movement, Mr. Lim Yue Kin. He feels that the postponement is a redundant and arbitrary delay, and that the government can easily apply the old system of voter registration and still allow the youths to vote. He also believes that citizens who are between 18 and 20 years old are already considered legal adults and should be allowed this basic right to vote.
In my opinion, the role of a country’s citizens is to keep those in power accountable for their actions. If they are untrustworthy and unreliable, it is up to the citizens of a country to push them out of power. However, it is easier said than done. Nothing in society is a unanimous yes and no. Sometimes the pond that favors the fish will drown the bird. Just like how the rich man would love to have no taxes, the poor would love more support by the government, which can only be facilitated by taxes. Everyone in society have their wants and needs, and they are always unique to the individual himself. This produces a fundamental problem for the government, “How do I help everyone?”
Although it seems like an impossible question to answer, it is the governments duty to do just that. The only way to make the process of solving this riddle easier is by understanding the perspectives of as many members of the society as possible. As long as one is a participating member of society, they are a pillar on which our country rests. The government is here to make sure that this foundation on which our country is built upon is well maintained. Without the input of one group of citizens, the government cannot do their work efficiently.
In this way, the opinions and perspectives of those who are younger matter, because they represent a part of society which hold their own perspectives and views. Their input will only make our democratic system more complete. In other words, it is a necessary step to take in the direction of achieving true democracy in our country.
However, many also believe that this step is one taken too soon, that the youth of our society are not well-equipped to make the right decision regarding who to vote for. It is my opinion however that it has nothing to do with their age. Being engaged with the happenings of our country is something that is not limited to those who are 21 and older. Even if it is just a basic understanding of government policies, it is enough to make a decision on whose ideals best fit those of your own.
Just having the influence to make a difference in the outcome of an election is enough for politicians to take the youth more seriously. Without the right to vote, the opinions and perspectives of this group will be neglected, and there will always exist within Malaysian society a large portion of citizens who contribute to the growth of our nation but have little to no say in its democratic process.
Furthermore, who is to say that 18-year-old citizens play no part in society? They are old enough to marry, they are old enough to sacrifice themselves in the army, they are even old enough to represent themselves in a court of law. It is true that they are relatively new to the dealings of real-world problems, but their wants and needs do represent a portion of Malaysia, and it is the government’s duty to have their voices heard.
Of course, just having the ability to vote does not necessarily mean that a group of people will magically gain enlightenment on the current political climate of Malaysia. But it is a good place to start. The more engagement the citizens of a country have with its government, the easier it is for the government to hear their voices and implement the right policies. In a way, especially given the fact that so many citizens are disconnected from the political realities of our country, it is imperative that we instill into our youth the importance of exercising their civic duty and voting as soon as possible.
Having the age of legal voting set at 21 in my opinion is more harmful than good. It imposes upon our youth the idea that politics and the state of our country is something that can be put off, something that can wait. The number of youth advocacy groups are increasing in day by day, and I think that that is indicative of our country’s youth’s willingness to participate in political conversations to better the lives of everyone in general. More importantly, it shows that the youth of Malaysia are willing to take part in these harder conversations. However, it is up to everyone else to embrace them into this world, and not dismiss them.
The more our youth is exposed to the issues of current-day Malaysia, the better informed they are when making a decision on who is to lead our country. Given that our government is having trouble being open and transparent in general, I think it is time to push the issue as well. By giving those who are 18 and older the right to vote, we move one step closer to being a truly democratic society, we leave room for the youth of our country to be truly engaged in politics and fight for what matters to them.
This is not just a matter of rights for the young, it is also a matter of holding our government accountable for their promises. Government transparency and public engagement has always been something that Malaysia has struggled with for a long time. Let this be an incentive for those in power to better these issues that have been impeding on the progress of Malaysia for decades. It is time to take politics seriously, it is time to take the opinions of the Malaysian people seriously.
If you do not want the Malaysian youth to be misled, educate them. It is not that hard to have basic engagement with the youth of our country. Why resist it when we can finally get started on it? To quote Mr. Lim Yue Kin, “Whether you like it or not, the bill has been passed, the youth will be able to vote, and you better be ready to do just that.”
Pang Xing Yu
Intern (April 2021)
