ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor State Assembly today approved an amendment to the State Constitution to lower the minimum age to vote and contest in elections to 18.
The amendment to Clause 16 of Part Two of the Government Constitution 1895 was approved unanimously by the 53 assemblymen present at a special sitting of the State Assembly.
The proposal for the amendment was tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad who said the amendment was meant to lower the minimum age of those eligible to be a state assemblyman from 21 to 18.
"The proposed amendment was approved by the State Exco in a meeting on Dec 15, 2021," said Hasni.
Four assemblymen, two from each side, debated the proposed amendment before it was unanimously approved.
The Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara had approved the amendment to the Federal Constitution to lower the minimum age through the Constitution Act (Amendment) 2019 (A1603) which was gazetted on Sept 10, 2019.
Speaker Suhaizan Kayat said the enactment would be enforced through the proclamation of a gazette.
"The enactment would be known as Government Constitution 1895 (Amendment) 2021 Enactment and would come into force on a date determined by the state authority through the proclamation of the gazette," said Suhaizan.
In November last year, all Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers have reportedly agreed to amend their respective State Constitutions to allow 18-year-old individuals to stand as candidates for General Elections, State Elections and By-Elections.
The matter was agreed at the 137th Menteri Besar and Chief Minister's Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Johor follows other states which have amended their respective state constitutions for that purpose including Sabah in Dec 2019; Perlis (May 2020); Terengganu (Aug 2020); Sarawak (Nov 2020); Kelantan (Dec 2020) and Perak (July 2020) and Penang (Sept 2021) and Kedah in Nov 2021.