The Malaysian parliament has approved to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. Once this bill becomes law, a person who turns 18 will automatically become a voter, unlike in the previous system where a person needs to register in order to become a voter even though he/she has reached the legal age. So, in the next general election due on 2023, as many as 7.8 mln people would be added to the electoral roll, bringing the country's total number of voters to 22.7 mln.
By lowering the voting age, Malaysia is following the trend in other countries. With the exception of Singapore, which still maintains a voting age of 21, most people in Southeast Asia can vote when they turn 18. While allowing more people to participate in the democratic process is a positive move, the change should not stop at the revision of voting age, if the country wants to reap the benefits of this revision. The younger voters need to be properly educated on the responsibility of being a voter, Malaysia’s political and electoral systems. Malaysia also needs to have more public forums that constructively debate major issues facing the country. Otherwise, Malaysia will have more populist politicians and populist policies and hence on a faster route to oblivion.
By lowering the voting age, Malaysia is following the trend in other countries. With the exception of Singapore, which still maintains a voting age of 21, most people in Southeast Asia can vote when they turn 18. While allowing more people to participate in the democratic process is a positive move, the change should not stop at the revision of voting age, if the country wants to reap the benefits of this revision. The younger voters need to be properly educated on the responsibility of being a voter, Malaysia’s political and electoral systems. Malaysia also needs to have more public forums that constructively debate major issues facing the country. Otherwise, Malaysia will have more populist politicians and populist policies and hence on a faster route to oblivion.
