Page 46 - My FlipBook
P. 46

Following the amendment of  limitations being based on one’s age,
                                                                                                                                   Malaysia’s electoral system to allow  citizenship and criminal record.
                                                                                                                                   18-year-olds to participate in elections, a

                                                                                                                                   talk regarding Malaysia’s electoral system
                                                                                                                                   was hosted for all Senior Middle 3 students               Following      that,     Mr.      Chou
                                                                                                                                   of Kuen Cheng High School on the 16th of           recommended an eBook titled Dong Zong
                                                                                                                                   April. The host of the talk was Mr. Walter         Election Education Book to the students

                                                                                                                                   Chou, who is a teacher and the Assistant           and told them to read 4 specific pages before
                                                                                                                                   Head of the Academic Department at Hin             continuing the talk. He gave students a few
           Civic                                                                                                                   Hua High School.                                   simple questions to answer regarding the

                                                                                                                                                                                      contents of the pages. It was then explained
                                                                                                                                                                                      that in Malaysia, normal citizens would
           Education:                                                                                                                      The talk started at 10:30 a.m. with  actually vote for representatives of different

                                                                                                                                   Mr. Chou introducing himself along with  political parties in different regions, and

           A Talk on                                                                                                               an interaction platform named Slido that  those representatives would be the ones
                                                                                                                                   the participants would have to use in order  voting for the Prime Minister in parliament.
                                                                                                                                   to answer questions or give their opinions.  To become the prime minister, one would
           Malaysia's                                                                                                              He then gave a brief introduction on  have  to  acquire  the  majority  vote  in


                                                                                                                                   electoral systems by sharing a video on the  parliament. Mr. Chou also mentioned that
           Electoral                                                                                                               historical moment where every Member of  there are 3 different types of representatives
                                                                                                                                   Parliament (MP) in Malaysia unanimously  in Malaysia, namely Members of
                                                                                                                                   agreed to lower the voting age to 18 instead  Parliament, State Representatives and City
           System                                                                                                                  of 21, meaning that those of age 18 and  Representatives, each with different rights

                                                                                                                                   above would be able to vote and even run  and responsibilities.
                                                                                                                                   for parliament. The reason it was such a

           Reported by:                                                                                                            memorable moment is because with the                      Moving on, Mr. Chou explained why
           Khoo Xin Yi Sr1ScA                                                                                                      addition of 18 to 20-year-old citizens,            democracy is important. With democracy,
                                                                                                                                   the number of votes would be increased
                                                                                                                                   by more than 7,000,000. With that, Mr.             citizens  would  be  given  the  chance  to
                                                                                                                                   Chou asked for the students’ opinion on            vote for a better government and a better
                                                                                                                                   the matter. Some students stated that they         country. Mr. Chou also brought up the

                                                                                                                                   were excited, happy, clueless, anxious and         responsibilities of those who organize the
                                                                                                                                   even unfazed.                                      elections, saying that they must check for
                                                                                                                                                                                      those who are eligible to vote. Elections are
                                                                                                                                                                                      held once every 5 years and Mr. Chou stated

                                                                                                                                           Mr. Chou went on to mention the  that the zones in which citizens should vote
                                                                                                                                   history of voting. From Ancient Greece  are based on their address. When voting,
                                                                                                                                   to 20th Century Europe and all the way  citizens vote for both one Member of

                                                                                                                                   to the countries in our modern world,  Parliament and one State Representative.
                                                                                                                                   the electoral systems around the world  In terms of the voting process, Mr. Chou
                                                                                                                                   have taken great changes. However, there  talked about the few steps citizens have to
                                                                                                                                   are still limitations to who can vote, with  take when going to vote. Citizens have to



       46                                                                                                                                                                                                                              47
   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51