Most of us who began our political activism in 1998 were in our late teens; with Rafizi Ramli, Chan Ming Kai, Chang Lih Kang, Nurin Aina, Sim Tze Zin, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Kesavan Subramaniam, and many others, aged between 18 to 21, culminating in our early membership of Parti KEADILAN Nasional (now Parti KEADILAN Rakyat) by 1999.
Faced with clear legislative and punitive academic challenges, many lost out on a secured tertiary future by choosing to voice political dissent or embrace an opposition party.
In 2012, the Special Select Committee on Electoral Reform secured the vote from MPs from all parties – for automatic voter registration of Malaysians aged 21 and above. The then government failed to honour this legislative decision in entirety.
Today, in the year 2021, the Election Commission reneged on the legislative commitment which saw parliamentarians approve the constitutional amendment to automatically register 18 year olds by 2021. Instead, a delayed September 2022 date emerged as the new dateline – relegating our legislative wing and parliamentary approval as mere footnotes, not decree which should be respected.
Just as we felt the winds of change energise our capacity for political action in the memorable years of 1998-1999, so must we empower the rights of 18 year olds to choose and design the future together.
2021 is the year of new norms; businesses getting digitalised; online organisation of work, education, and everything in between. It certainly is a year which cannot tolerate the Election Commission using an archaic excuse of a challenging voter registration mechanism to delay 18 year olds from exercising their right.
The EC, and all MPs must respect and deliver on our joint legislative commitment.
Nurul Izzah Anwar
Permatang Pauh, Member of Parliament
