KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 1): The merits of the judicial review launched by 18 Malaysian teenagers challenging the government’s decision to delay the implementation of Undi18, which will lower the voting age to 18 and enable automated voter registration, will be heard on August 23 before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur (AVR). The date for both parties to present their arguments for and against the lawsuit has been set by Justice Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid. The judge granted the youths’ request for judicial review leave last month.
The youngsters filed a judicial review application on behalf of the Undi18 movement, naming Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the government, and the Election Commission (EC) as defendants.
The judge also directed the parties to produce response affidavits by July 26.
Last month, the judge speculated that the respondents’ decision to postpone the reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 years old from July 2021 until after September 1, 2022 is subject to judicial scrutiny.
In judicial review applications, when the courts are asked to review the actions or decisions of a public body or the government, the applicants must obtain leave, or permission, from the courts in order for their cases to progress and be considered.
The judge also speculated that the government’s choice to postpone implementation had harmed the adolescents, justifying a judicial review.
The youngsters launched their legal action on April 2, seeking multiple court orders as a result of the defendants’ failure to execute Undi18.
The teenagers asked for a statement that the government’s decision to postpone the implementation of the law lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 was unreasonable, illegal, excessive, and a form of voter suppression.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that persons aged 18 to 20 have a reasonable expectation of being able to vote on or before July 20, 2021.
The teenagers, who are between the ages of 18 and 20, are also seeking a determination that the respondents’ decision to postpone the application of Section 3(a) until July 2021 is a form of voter suppression against those between the ages of 18 and 20./n
