PETALING JAYA: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has urged newly sworn-in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to implement Undi18, which would allow those aged 18 and above to vote in elections.

       The Muar MP said that Ismail Sabri promised to be with the youth in his maiden speech on Sunday (Aug 22).

       “You were with us, sir, on #UNDI18 when you were the leader of the opposition. UNDI18 should have been implemented two months ago but Perikatan Nasional did not adhere to their promise. This is a historic bipartisan agreement. Let’s do this together,” the former Youth and Sports Minister said in a tweet.

       In July 2019, the Undi18 motion to amend the Federal Constitution was passed unanimously with 211 votes in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, and with bipartisan support.

       It was then approved by the Dewan Negara on July 25 of the same year and gazetted two months later on Sept 10, 2019.

       With Undi18, the total number of voters (including new young voters and previously unregistered voters) is expected to increase from 14.9 million in 2018 to 22.7 million by 2023, when GE15 is due.

       However, from 2019 there has been scant progress.

       The initial plan as assured by former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan was for Undi18 to be implemented in July this year.

       However in March, the Election Commission announced that the lowering of the minimum voting age and automatic voter registration can only be done after Sept 1, 2022.

       The reason given was that the implementation of Undi18 and its necessary procedures were hindered by the movement control order, which was introduced to curb Covid-19 infections.