KUALA LUMPUR: A proposal by the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) to postpone the amendment of youth age limit to 2023 has been deemed as ironic and inconsistent.
Malaysia United Democratic Alliance's (Muda) vice-president Lim Wei Jiet said the proposal would negate the rise of youths as leaders, following the move to allow 18-year-olds to vote and contest in the general election.
Last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said amendment to Article 119 of the Federal Constitution and the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007 would redefine the range of youth age from 15 to 40 years to 15 to 30 years.
He said the amendment would create a transition towards promoting youth leadership.
"It is ironic that they (MBM) need more time. It shows they have no faith in youths," Lim said when contacted today.
Lim added that during the Pakatan Harapan administration, the Dewan Rakyat has passed the Constitution (Amendment) 2019 Bill to reduce the voting age in national and state election and reduce the age at which a person can stand for election to 18 years in 2019.
"It was unanimously agreed that an 18-year-old can even become an MP (member of parliament) in 2019 itself, so they cannot say they have no time to make changes now.
"It has already been two years since the law was passed. This is terribly inconsistent too."
Recently, MBM had proposed for the implemention youth age limit from 40 to 30 years to be put on hold until 2023.
This comes after Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu's announcement in the parliament that the age limit would be effective come January next year.