SABAH TODAY

BY ZARA DEBA
KOTA KINABALU: Both the GRS Sabah Government and Federal PN Government have been warned not to hide behind government agencies like the Election Commission to cover their inefficiencies.

In a statement by its Vice President, Datuk Junz Wong,the party said the delay of 18 years old voting is proof of the present governments’ cowardice.

“I want to warn GRS and PN not to hide behind the EC. Delaying Undi18 only proves how much the present day government fears the youths.”

Wong recalled, Sabah was the first government to pass state enactments, enabling youths as young as 18 years old to be a state assemblyman.

“The present day government’s cowardice is such a huge contrast to Warisan who supported strongly the youths’ voices in nation building.”

“Warisan also supported Undi18 in Parliament.”

“We even went further to amend state enactments to allow 18-year-olds be elected leaders.”

“Sabah in November 2019 under the Warisan administration, amended Article 16 of the Sabah Constitution to lower the qualification age of a state assemblyman from 21 to 18.”

“This is in line with the Parliamentary Age of Majority Act 1971 and also with the United Nations and international conventions, which defines adults as 18 year-old and above.”

“We were the first in the country to do so.”

“We did so with the support of the then opposition reps like Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR), Masidi Manjun (PPBM) and Jahid Jahim (PBS).”

Junz lamented that now that GRS is in power, the effort has been delayed.

“But now, the then opposition who have become government, are delaying the implementation of allowing youths to vote.”

He said this was done by using the EC as a shield.

“This delay was done very cynically. Instead of the Ministers announcing so, they are using agencies to deliver this bad news.”

“This is a very similar modus operandi practised by BN in the past. When there is good news, the Minister will make the annoincement. But when there is bad news, the civil service and agencies will be sent to make the announcement.

“Using government agencies as a shield for what? So that government agencies become the receiving end of public backlash while the government politicians save their skin.”

“But the fact is, it is practise to appoint agency heads that are in-line with policies of the present day government.”

“If the government is sincere in allowing youths vote, the EC would have to heed so because the jobs of the current heads of the EC are at the whims and fancies of the present-day government.”

“The government cannot on one hand use agencies to block 18 year old voting, and then its politicians release statements acting like they oppose it.”

“These agency heads are appointed by the government of the day. Sack them if the government is sincere is wanting youths to have a right to vote.”

Junz concluded, that this will not bold well with the youths.

“Be warned. This is not the 80s or 90s where whatever said by the government will be accepted as the gospel truth.”

“Our Sabahan and Malaysian youths are becoming more and more political savvy and conscious.”

“High unemployment rate, lack of quality jobs for graduates, economic hardship, double standard practises by those in power, unfulfilled MA63 promises, unfair distribution of resources, rise in racial and religious tensions…. GRS/PN thinks the youths are blind and deaf? They think the youths don’t know what is happening?”

“GRS/PN may disallow 18 to 20 year olds from voting. But those as young as 21 years old will smell fear and vote them out.”