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PETALING JAYA: Opposition MPs are demanding Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Justice Minister Takiyuddin Hassan resign after automatic 18-year voter registration was delayed, as announced by the Electoral Commission (EC) today.
In a joint statement, the eight MPs said that both Muhyiddin and Takiyuddin were among the 211 elected representatives who voted to pass the bill in 2019.
They added that the Dewan Negara had also passed the bill.
Criticizing the EC’s decision to delay the implementation of the automatic registration, the MPs said it was an “insult” to the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.
Based on the Federal Constitution, the Cabinet must assume collective responsibility before Parliament. Therefore, the decision (to delay implementation) is a failure on the part of the Cabinet.
“Therefore Muhyiddin and Takiyuddin must resign immediately,” they said.
The eight MPs were Fahmi Fadzil (PKR), Steven Sim (DAP), Khalid Samad (Amanah), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA), Azis Jamman (Warisan), Mukhriz Mahathir (Pejuang), Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko) and Baru Bian (Sarawak United Party).
In a statement earlier today, EC President Abdul Ghani Salleh said the automatic 18-year-old voter registration was expected to be delayed until after September 2022.
He said movement restrictions due to the pandemic had disrupted the EC’s preparations to implement the law that was passed in Parliament in July 2019.
Since then, the move has drawn criticism from politicians and non-governmental organizations, and one, Undi18, plans to take Putrajaya to court for the delay.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Council of Pakatan Harapan said that the 15th general election (GE15) should not be held until Undi18 is implemented.
In a statement, they said that if the polls are held before Undi18 is implemented, the voices of some 3.8 million young people would be denied.
“This would be the greatest sin of the PN-led government for the younger generation.”
The statement was issued by PKR President Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah President Mohamad Sabu, and DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng.
