A total of 211 MPs were in favour of the amendment to lower the voting age from 21.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said that no MPs voted against the bill and none abstained from voting.

“We have more than two-thirds who have agreed,” he said, referring to the majority needed to amend the constitution.

Earlier, when winding up the debate on the bill, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad addressed concerns raised by the MPs, including when 18-year-olds would actually be allowed to vote.

He said the relevant agencies and ministries, such as the National Registration Department, health ministry and the police, must be given room to integrate data.

He said automatic registration would see an estimated 7.8 million registered as new voters.

“This is not an easy task as it involves time and money, among others,” he said.

Mahathir said Putrajaya had no plans to make voting mandatory, noting that even in countries that had such a ruling, the system did not guarantee 100% turnout.

He said the government would also look into a proposal to fine voters who did not cast their ballot.

The Cabinet had agreed to lower the voting age in September last year.

Mahathir, who had tabled the bill earlier in the day, said the government also agreed to the opposition’s proposal for the automatic registration of voters.

He said many countries allow their citizens to vote at 18 as youths become more politically aware, adding that they are “more mature, more informed and more independent these days”.