Voter registration slowing, DAP MP sounds alarm

The registration of new voters this year is slowing dramatically and in some regions are experiencing a net decrease in voters, warned Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.

Ong, who is the DAP assistant political education director, said the Election Commission's latest quarterly update of the voter list showed that there were 85,358 new voters in fourth-quarter (Q4) last year, before dropping to 52,382 and 44,321 in the next two quarters.

"This means that only 182,061 new voters were added to the electoral roll from Q4 2020 and Q2 2021. To compare, an estimated 500,000 citizens turn 21 every year and are eligible to register as voters," he said in a statement today.

Ong said Perlis and Labuan saw a net decrease in the number of voters throughout the three quarters while Kedah, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor and Penang saw a decrease in voters in some quarters.

"These low new voter registration rates may be a signal that the younger generation of eligible voters in Malaysia feels more disconnected from the political system than before.

"They may also be concerned about venturing out to go to the post office to register to vote, for example," said Ong.

Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming

He said many who are eligible to register as voters are unaware that they are able to register online due to insufficient publicity while political parties and other interest groups are unable to conduct in-person registration exercises.

In view of this, he urged the government to compel higher education students to register as voters as part of their enrolment and to allow interest groups to conduct voter registration exercises.

"All of us, as citizens, can encourage our friends and relatives who have recently turned 21 to quickly register as voters via the MyDaftarSPR website.

"Only with a more engaged electorate, including those from the younger generation, can the public at large continue to put pressure on political parties to field responsible and qualified candidates to run for office and to vote in responsible and qualified representatives at the state and federal levels," said Ong.