KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Sin Chew Daily) — Young voters will be playing a key role in determining the political landscape and future of Malaysia, says Tan Sri Goh Tian Chuan, president of Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia or Hua Zong.

With the move to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18, young Malaysians form a major group of voters.

Goh also said political parties are targeting teenagers as young as 14 years old so that they will have a group of supporters eligible to vote in election when they turn 18.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the annual general meeting for the youth wing of Hua Zong, Goh said a total of 7.8 million new voters will be eligible to vote in the election over the next five years once the minimum voting age is lowered from 21 to 18.

The number of voters will increase from 14.9 million in 2018 to 22.7 million in 2023, which is more than 50% increase, he said.

Based on the breakdown of age groups in 2018, 41% of voters were in the 21-39 age group, 39% in the 40-59 age group, 18% in the 60-79 age group and 2% aged 80 and above.

“I must stress that we welcome the young voters and support the move to lower the minimum voting age.

“We encourage young Chinese Malaysians to contribute to nation building as well,” he said.