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18-year-olds officially have a new, important resposibility

Jul 17, 2019

It's official, 18-year-olds can vote in the next General Election.

In a historic first, MPs from both sides of the political divide came together yesterday to vote through an amendment to the Federal Constitution.

This means 18-year-olds can vote and stand for election, and will be automatically registered as voters once they are of age.

However, Electoral Reform Committee chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman told Astro Awani, the youth need to change their mindset for the lower voting age to work.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann has praised the move.

"We believe that with the opening up to young voters, a lot of young voters also will be inspired to be involved in issues of nation building. And also, policy makers will also be more inclusive and consider policies for the young."

The Election Commission is ready to start an awareness campaign to get Malaysians to update their addresses.

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We need to step up sex education

Sex education is more important than ever, with 18,000 teenaged girls in Malaysia getting pregnant each year. 

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah said most of the pregnancies are unplanned and about half of them are likely to end with an abortion.

Baby dumping is also a big issue, with an average of one baby found dead every three days. 

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MOE to roll out anti-vape campaigns

The Education Ministry will intensify anti-vape campaigns in school, after a primary schoolgirl was seen vaping at a bustop.