18-year-olds can contest in by-election but can't vote, says EC
- 5 years ago
Tanjung Piai will mark the ninth by-election since GE14, but it will be the first time that 18-year-olds will be able to be fielded as candidates.
This comes after both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara passed the constitutional amendment to lower the age for contesting in elections in July.
Checks with the Attorney General’s Chambers website show that the amendment was gazetted on Sept 10.
However, according to Election Commission (EC) chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun, they will not be able to vote despite constitutional amendments to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, and for automatic voter registration.
He said they can't vote as the amendments have not been enforced and that the amendments will be enforced once it has been decided and gazetted.
This comes after both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara passed the constitutional amendment to lower the age for contesting in elections in July.
Checks with the Attorney General’s Chambers website show that the amendment was gazetted on Sept 10.
However, according to Election Commission (EC) chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun, they will not be able to vote despite constitutional amendments to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, and for automatic voter registration.
He said they can't vote as the amendments have not been enforced and that the amendments will be enforced once it has been decided and gazetted.