IPOH, March 26 — Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican today urged the Election Commission (EC) to consider amending some of the Federal Constitution, if not all in the Undi18 after the latter postponed its implementation to next year.

Reezal said the EC’s decision to postpone the implementation of the voting age to 18 from July 2021 to September 2022 is disappointing the youths.

"The amendments to the Constitution include lowering the voting age to 18, lowering the eligible Parliament and State candidates age to 18 and automatic voter registration at 18.

"In this matter, maybe the EC can see if there are any components in the amendment that can be implemented first before waiting for others,” he wrote in his Facebook posting.

Reezal also reiterated that his and all the 211 MPs’ stand did not change in this matter, which is to see a large democracy process given to the public.

He explained that the amendment in the Constitution over the voter’s age will give a democracy participation space to the youths.

"Voting is the right of every citizen and the guarantee for Undi 18 to be implemented is a big commitment that needs to be borne by the EC,” he added.

Yesterday, the EC announced that the lowering of the voting age to 18 and the accompanying automatic voter registration will not be implemented this year as scheduled.

The commission blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for causing delays to its implementation of the initiative that was unanimously approved by Parliament in 2019.

The EC said it needed to evaluate new obstacles and persisting issues as well account for the various movement control orders (MCO) that are in place.