A task force will also be set up in each state to liaise with youth, gather information and establish two-way communication with the decision-making unit from the government,” she said at the MCA Youth annual meeting today.

Wong said the implementation of Undi18 that was gazetted on Dec 1 and took effect on Dec 15 saw an increase of 40% in the number of registered young voters, thus encouraging more young candidates to contest in the coming 15th general election.

The task force is jointly headed by the youth wing’s legal bureau chairman Ryan Ho Kwok Xheng, its civil society movement coordination bureau chairman Heng Zhi Li, and central committee member Kong Suet Ping.

MCA deputy president Mah Hang Soon said in the opening speech that MCA should focus on efforts to woo young and new voters aged 18 years in the general election.

“Following the implementation of Undi18, I believe the political development in our country will undergo a shift towards younger people, creating more and bigger platforms for the youth to showcase their talents and express views.

“MCA Youth should be prepared to improve efficiency, leadership and ethics among leaders to become respected politicians, thus attracting more young people to join us,” he added.

Barisan Nasional Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the BN would continue to work as a strong team by featuring younger new faces for the general election.

“These young voters who will automatically be voting for the first time, are among those that we need to approach strategically,” he said.

The amendments to lower the voting age to 18, and providing for automatic voter registration, were gazetted on Dec 1 and came into force last Wednesday.