KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Legislative Assembly has passed a Bill to amend the state constitution to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, and becomes the first state to do so.
It was made five months after the Dewan Rakyat passed the Bill to lower the voting age and the eligible age of electoral candidates from 21 to 18.
Sabah Law and Native Affairs Minister Datuk Aidi Mokhtar said the state Assembly sitting to amend the Constitution of the State of Sabah Article 16 was passed with more than two-third votes.
A total of 57 out of 65 assemblyman voted for the Bill, and seven debated on the issue. Ten were absent from the House when the vote was taken, he added.
"The passing of the bill shows that the government realises the importance of involving youngsters in Sabah in policy-making," he told reporters later.
The amendment also sought for Clause I to provide for the short title and commencement of the proposed amendment.
Clause 2 also seeks to amend Article 16 of the Constitution of the State of Sabah to lower the age of a citizen who is qualified to be elected as an elected member or appointed as a nominated member of the Legislative Assembly from 21 to 18.
Among issues raised in the sitting were the revamp the education system to have an English-medium curriculum, a political education syllabus, and to involve young people in local councils.