KOTA BARU: Pas has admitted that it will face a monumental challenge in getting support from the younger generation following the decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
Pas vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, who is also the Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar, said Pas could face an uphill task in swaying young voters as many were exposed to social media and the internet.
“Pas has no problems with accepting the decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 as it has been the party's wish all this while. We could however face a challenge in attracting the younger generation to support the party, with the existence of many forms of social media nowadays.
“Nevertheless, it won’t dampen our spirit and drive to draw the younger generation to join Pas. Our various machineries, including our Unit Amal and Youth Council, have been working round-the-clock to attract young voters.
“These units have since been told to double their efforts towards this purpose,” he told reporters after attending the state executive council meeting at Darulnaim Complex here on Wednesday.
The Dewan Rakyat had on Tuesday unanimously voted for the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.
With this, the voting age as well as eligibility to contest in elections was lowered to 18, with voters being automatically registered in the electoral roll.