Gov't open to reviewing voting age
The voting age of 21 could be reduced to 18 if a consensus is achieved on the matter, the House was told today.
In response to a supplementary question by Bung Mukhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany said that if "maturity can be seen" among the 18-year-olds in the country, the government would review the current voting age.
The voting age of 21 could be reduced to 18 if a consensus is achieved on the matter, the House was told today.
In response to a supplementary question by Bung Mukhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany said that if "maturity can be seen" among the 18-year-olds in the country, the government would review the current voting age.
"If many people think that it is time that young Malaysians be allowed to vote at 18, then we would go for it. However, so far there is no consensus achieved on that," said the deputy minister.
Devamany also rejected the suggestion by Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) that the voting age be set at 18 as constituted in the Age of Majority Act 1971.
"The Act cannot be used as a platform (to determine) voting age because previous general elections have shown that voters display maturity at 21," he said.
Ferry tragedy: families demand answers
Family members of those who perished in the Seagull Express ferry tragedy in Pulau Tioman last year made an appearance in the Parliament building today to submit a memorandum to the transport ministry, demanding an urgent probe into the incident.
Wong Soo Ching, 41 and Seng May Ying, 34 who both lost their husbands in the tragedy, said the families have yet to receive even a "sympathy" phone call from the government, adding that all they were asking for is an apology.
"I also want justice for my husband as I do not want him to die in vain. The ferry company did not even apologise to us," said Wong.
"I just want those responsible to respect my husband and I want an investigation to start immediately," said Seng.
The government had last year had ordered a full inquiry into the ferry tragedy that killed four people.
However, according to Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San who accompanied the families today, the committees set up by the government have not produced any outcome.
"They did not even offer them (the families) any compensation from the damages caused by the tragedy," he added.
