KOTA KINABALU: We fully support and welcome the Kuching High Court’s decision to order the Election Commission (EC) and the government to implement Undi 18 before December 31 this year. This is the right decision as it is in line with the amendment to the Federal Constitution on Undi 18 and the automatic registration of voters, one which was agreed upon by all the members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in July 2019.
2. However, we would like to stress that the registration has to go through a transparent mechanism, to ensure that it would not involve those who have obtained identity cards illegally. We know that the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) has proven that there was a scandal regarding the issuance of identity cards through the use of malpractice and abuse of power in the state of Sabah.
3. Indeed, the youths of Malaysia were proud that the High Court’s decision on September 3 had favoured the Undi 18 implementation. But at the same time, we do not want to see those who have obtained their identification cards illegally take this opportunity to spread out, thus posing a threat to national sovereignty.
4. We would like to refer to a newspaper report entitled “3 civil servants arrested for carrying illegal immigrants using government vehicles” dated July 21. This incident took place in Tawau, where these three civil servants brought 15 Illegal Immigrants (PATI) past the Road Blockade (SJR) in Jalan Kunak-Tawau before being detained in Balung, Jalan Apas in the same district. Only the three of them were detained, but the PATI passengers managed to escape. This is worrying and this has happened before.
5. We would also like to invite all parties to recall the brutal murder case involving a security guard who shot a bank officer in Subang Jaya on October 24, 2013. Many would still remember this case. The woman died at the scene, causing her two children and her husband to lose a loved one. We know after the investigation, it was discovered that the security guard had used a fake identity card from Sabah. Just look at the severe consequences that can be brought by issuing identity cards illegally.
6. In this regard, we would like to urge the government to withdraw and update the identity cards or MyKads and to only distribute them to those eligible. This is not impossible. This can be proven by the fact that the National Registration Department (NRD) has updated the identity card in the country several times (at least about four times). Use the same concept, but with stricter filtering. If it cannot be done simultaneously across the country, then the government should opt to start in Sabah as the state is deeply affected by this.
7. Last but not least, we would like to once again express our support for the implementation of Undi 18. However, the implementation of automatic registration should be further delayed and manual registration shall be used as an alternative for the moment.
Felix Joseph Saang
(UPKO Malaysia Youth Chief)
YB Phoong Jin Zhe
(Pakatan Harapan Sabah Youth Chief)