Muda to sue govt over Undi18 delay

PETALING JAYA: Following the postponement of the implementation of Undi18, the yet to be registered Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has declared that it will take the government to court over the matter.

Muda pro-tem committee member Lim Wei Jiet said there are ongoing efforts to file a case in court against the government, adding that the "excuses" given for the delay to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 are nonsensical.

"It does not make sense because during the movement control order and the Emergency, school students still need to learn from home, and the people still need to work to pay bank loans.

"But the government agency has blamed it on bureaucracy. Would registration take more than two years?" he questioned.

In a statement on Thursday (March 25), Lim said the delay in implementing Undi18 is akin to violations of the basic principles of democracy and also goes against the Federal Constitution.

He also pointed out that more than two-thirds of MPs in the 222-seat Parliament had voted in 2019 in support of the motion to amend to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

Earlier on Thursday, the Election Commission (EC) announced the postponement of Undi18 and automatic voter registration to after Sept 1 next year.

EC explained that its preparations had been hampered by the MCO enforced to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

It estimated that around 1.2 million youths in the age group will be affected.