Johor passes Bill to lower eligible age of polls candidates

KOTA ISKANDAR: The Johor state assembly has passed the Johor State Constitution (Amendment) Enactment 2021 to lower the minimum age of election candidates for state seats from 21 to 18 years.

The amendment to Article 16 of the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Johor 1895 (Amendment) Enactment 2021 was tabled by Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at Bangunan Sultan Ismail here on Thursday (Jan 6).

The amendment was approved unanimously by all assemblymen after a third reading.

The amendment was debated by Hahasrin Hashim (BN-Panti) and K. Raven Kumar (BN-Tenggaroh) who represented the government bloc while Andrew Chen Kah Eng (PH-Stulang and Mohammad Taqiuddin Cheman (PH-Pulai Sebatang) represented the Opposition.

“This enactment shall come into force on a date to be appointed by the state government by notification in the gazette,” Speaker Suhaizan Kayat said.

The amendment was in line with the passing of a Bill in 2019 to amend the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age and the eligible age of electoral candidates from 21 to 18.

Earlier, Suhaizan on behalf of the august House conveyed condolences to the family of former mentri besar and Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian, who passed away on Dec 21.