UNDI 18: SABAHAN YOUTHS READY TO VOTE

1 Mar 2021

By Ilona Andrew

KOTA KINABALU: Youths in Sabah have expressed their preparedness to vote in the next General Election with the Undi 18 Bill passed and gazetted in 2019 and awaiting the status of the full implementation expected to be known by end of July this year.

The historic bid to lower the country’s voting age from 21 to 18 years old was tabled personally by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the Dewan Rakyat.

The agenda, popularly known as the Undi 18 movement, was pushed by the then Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and his team, and when implemented, about 3.8 million of youths aged between 18 and 21 will be eligible to vote.

Sharon Alycia Anak Bill, 22, said Undi 18 will empower and give youth confidence to make decisions in all fields and at all levels including in Parliament.

Sharon Alycia Anak Bill, 22 years old.

“As a youth myself and will be voting for the first time in the next General Election, I am prepared to conduct my responsibility as a Malaysian citizen to vote whoever I feel will be the best for our nation.

“Letting 18-year-olds to vote offers a significant opportunity that allows them to take part in the democratic process of choosing the government and representatives besides cultivating political maturity in an early stage.

“For me, there is no need to wait for youths to turn 21 to have the knowledge or be involved in politics,” said the university student from Tawau.

Sharon opined that it could also educate the younger generation to be more aware of the national political issues.

However, she feels that a small number of 18-year-olds still lack the critical thinking needed to make decisions, and this might jeopardise the future of the nation if they were to vote based on just their fancies.

“I urge youths aged between 18 and 21 to fill themselves with enough knowledge to help build a better nation. We are as important and equal partners in our country’s democratic process,” she emphasised.

For Nadhirah Azam Sukri, she is ready to devote herself to a better nation’s political future as she actively follows pollical issues in the country, particularly in Sabah.

Nadhirah Azam Sukri, 21 years old.

The 21-year-old diploma student said, many 18-year-olds now are aware of the need of political stability as today’s youths have easy access to learn about politics through the internet.

“I think it is suitable to lower the legal voting age to 18 as this puts pressure for younger generation to broaden their thinking in politics, which is actually an important subject.

“A person’s maturity does not lie on one’s age, but the mind,” she said, adding that concerns addressed by the youths should also be taken as seriously as possible as they are a crucial group of stakeholders.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ryan Daniel Norman said engaging youths in the eligibility to vote can formulate the todays and tomorrows of politics.

Ryan Daniel Norman, 19 years old.

“Thus, this can help build stable and peaceful societies, besides developing policies that respond to specific needs of the younger generation,” said the diploma student from Penampang.

He expressed his preparedness to carry out his responsibility to vote in the next generation, affirming that 18 years old is a suitable age to get involved in the political arena.

“Young people's contribution to voting can bring democratic values to life. By lowering the minimum age to vote, our nation would challenge this stereotype and make the participation more inclusive,” he added.

Another youth, Adam G. Ginajim said he believes that having the right to vote will itself invoke a sense of responsibility.

Adam G. Ginajim, 19 years old.

The 20-year-old from Penampang said it offers a significant opportunity for the younger generation to cultivate critical thinking, evaluating, and making informed choices.

“(If Undi 18 is implemented,) I will have the chance to vote for calibre leaders who I think would help govern a nation accordingly.

“It is undeniable that 18-year-olds are still seen as immature to be involved in the political arena, but at this age, having political knowledge is one of the sine qua non towards a better nation.

“Therefore, youngsters should start obtaining as much political knowledge as they could for the betterment of the nation’s future,” he noted.

However, Adam’s brother, 18-year-old Addison G. Ginajim said he is apprehensive about being given such vital reliance as it involves major and critical decision-making.

Addison G. Ginajim, 18 years old.

He admitted that he is still a little underdeveloped when it comes to political knowledge as he only knows the itsy-bitsy of current political affairs.

“There are advantages to the eligibility to vote at 18, but I feel like we still need some time to learn more about politics,” he said, adding that he is ready to commit to understanding more about politics in order to carry out his voting responsibility later.