Cabinet to lower voting age from 21 to 18

PUTRAJAYA (September 19): The Cabinet has decided to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

The Star reports that the decision was made at its weekly meeting today. Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said that work on amending the Federal Constitution will begin soon.

"One of the things to be done is to work closely with the youth wings of Opposition parties as a two-thirds majority is needed for laws to be amended," he was quoted as saying.

"By the next general election, 18-year-olds can cast their votes, that is for certain.”

Confident that the political parties would cooperate Syed Saddiq said that informal discussion with a number of youth leaders had already begun.

"I can say that they too are keen on this issue," he said, according to the daily.

By Malaysian law, 18 is the age at which individuals are eligible for obtaining their driver’s licence, marriage or to sign contracts.

Countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, Iran, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia have all lowered the voting age to 18.

In Malaysia and Singapore, the voting age is currently 21.