DAP Youth asks EC to reconsider automatic voter registration
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — DAP Youth today asked the Election Commission (EC) to reconsider a proposal made to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms on the automatic registration of all Malaysians as voters upon reaching the age of 21.
Its chief, Anthony Loke (picture), said the EC should take into consideration the proposal forwarded by Putera MIC at a public hearing as the majority of the 3.3 million eligible voters were young adults.
“It’s a good proposal and Pakatan Rakyat has always welcomed this kind of electoral reform, whether it comes from within the opposition component parties or the Barisan Nasional,” he told a news conference at the DAP headquarters, here.
Loke, who is Rasah MP, said that with the implementation of such an (automatic registration) exercise, the EC and all political parties could utilise their resources for other activities.
He pointed out that a substantial number of the 16.2 million eligible voters have yet to register as voters.
And for that purpose, he said, DAP Youth today launched a nationwide three-week voter registration campaign.
Loke called on Malaysians to register before September 13 and said they would have a chance to vote if the general election is held in January next year.
“I’m just guessing that the prime minister might decide to call for polls next year and more people will have a chance to take part in it,” he said.
Besides reg2vote.com, DAP Youth is promoting the campaign via social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to maximise awareness of the need for young Malaysians to register as voters.
Enquiries can be directed to [email protected] or the hotline number 016-8782 472. — Bernama
