PETALING JAYA: More than 450,000 college students in increased schooling establishments (HEIs) might be eligible to vote and form the end result of upcoming elections following the implementation of Undi18.
This is about 38% of the 1.2 million college students within the nation’s HEIs, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.
“As such, the Higher Education Ministry has a role to play in preparing students from a political point of view and inculcating the correct understanding of the country’s political landscape.
“Based on a study the ministry conducted last year to assess varsity students’ political literacy, it can be improved on by consolidating and strengthening their appreciation of existing policies and Acts.
“The Ministry is collaborating with other government departments and agencies to raise students’ awareness (of political matters) as they prepare to become voters,” she mentioned.
She added that the nation is anticipated to see nearly 23 million eligible voters within the fifteenth General Election, a rise from the 15 million for GE14.
Noraini was talking on the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and the Election Commission (EC), and the launch of the UiTM DNA report on Thursday (Jan 27).
On UiTM’s collaboration with the EC, she mentioned the college is one of the biggest establishments in Malaysia, with 185,400 college students throughout the nation.
Of that quantity, Noraini mentioned 46% or 85,284 are aged between 18 and 20, which is sort of 19% of all HEI college students within the nation who’re eligible to vote following the implementation of Undi18.
“This collaboration between UiTM and EC is a proactive move… in the ministry’s Voter Education Awareness Programme among varsity students,” she mentioned, including that it is vital to produce graduates who’re politically conscious.
