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Recently, Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the Senate President stated that Malaysians as young as 18 should be given the opportunity to become senators since the voting age has been lowered from 21 to 18. This way, the Senate can get inputs from the youths and students about their demands. For example, a university student who is elected to lead a student union, including those active in organised youth groups, can automatically be appointed as a senator unless disqualified by their character.

He also said that he is working on a proposal to introduce a special provision under the Federal Constitution, namely by implementing an amendment to the Federal Constitution so that youths can be appointed as members of the Senate by creating a provision under (Article 45 of the Constitution) to appoint youths aged 18 upward. Currently, one must be at least 30 years old to become a senator.

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar also said more women need to be added, besides having additional women representatives from each state. This is to increase the representation of women so that another provision under the Constitution can be created for this purpose. According to him, the number of women holding positions in decision-making and policy-making has not increased even though women dominate many other fields. In addition, Tan Sri Wan Junaidi also felt the need to increase the number of representatives from each state including from the federal territories.

For context, the current membership of the Senate consists of 26 members elected by the State Legislature to represent the 13 states, with each state represented by two members. Meanwhile, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the Prime Minister, will appoint 44 members, including two from Kuala Lumpur, and one each from Labuan and Putrajaya.
The reforms proposed by Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar are in line with the proposal submitted by CSO Platform for Reform during a working visit to the Senate Presidenton 28 August 2023.
We welcome the suggestions of the Senate President who also intends to implement the reforms of the Senate as proposed. This is because through the increase in the voices of youth and women, the Senate will better understand the issues felt by groups that are often marginalised.

Therefore, CSO Platform for Reform urges Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (Law and Institutional Reform) to respond to the recommendations from the Senate President by expediting a briefing on the amendments to the Federal Constitution to increase the participation of youth and women leaders as senators to the Senate. In addition, we hope that due consideration will be given to fulfill the quota of one-third members of the Senate to Sabah and Sarawak in line with the government's stance to empower the voices of the Malaysian Borneo states in Parliament. We would also be honored if CSO Platform for Reform be invited as the strategic partner, to consultation sessions relating to the proposed reforms of the Senate.

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