KUALA LUMPUR (July 1): The government could sort out existing unregistered eligible voters and address low voter turnout before pushing to lower voting age from 21 to 18, said PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

"We have four million eligible voters who are not yet registered. The government is supposed to focus on how to ensure they are all registered before lowering the minimum voting age," Tuan Ibrahim told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat today.

"There's also political awareness to make sure all registered voters come out to vote. Instances of low voter turnout of below 60% in recent past do not paint a picture of grassroots support towards each [election] candidate," he added.

Tuan Ibrahim pointed to Thailand where eligible voters are not given government benefits if they do not come out to vote in elections. "Perhaps our government should look into that," he said.

On July 4, the government is expected to move a Bill during the current Dewan Rakyat sitting to reduce minimum voting age from 21 to 18 years old.

If passed, it will allow some 3.5 million Malaysians aged between 18 and 20 years old to vote during the 15th General Election, which could happen latest by 2021.