Stating that MPs have discussed and supported the move, Shahril called on the government to be “gentlemen” and not change their stance on the issue “just because young voters are not in favor of the ruling party.”

He said on Twitter: “Find a way to win, not a way to run.”

Shahril said “even those older than 21 will condemn you” if the government did not go ahead, adding that those who “play dirty” would lose credibility.

His comments came in the wake of an online forum in which PPBM Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, who is deputy minister of youth and sports, was reported to have said Malaysians are not ready to vote at the age of 18.

Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim also recently claimed that the decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 was made hastily by the Pakatan Harapan government.

In 2019, Parliament agreed to amend the Federal Constitution to allow 18-year-olds to vote and stand as candidates in elections. The law was officially gazetted in September 2019.

Last November, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan told the Dewan Rakyat that implementation of the new voting age and automatic voter registration is expected to commence by July at the latest.

Shahril said the younger generation must be given their rights and entrusted to determine their future, especially with the challenges they currently face. “This has already been agreed upon, just proceed,” he said.