Parliament on Wednesday rejected an amendment bill to the Local Councils Act.
The Bill on Amendment to the Local Councils Act, tabled by MP for Baarah Ibrahim Shujau, proposed to set an age limit of 65 years for individuals contesting the local council elections.
All 65 members present at Wednesday’s Parliament sitting voted unanimously to reject the bill.
Presenting the bill to the Parliament floor, MP Shujau said his bill was aimed at providing opportunities for young people, adding that people over the retirement age of 65 receiving pension from the state should not be allowed to contest the local elections.
During debate, most MPs spoke against the bill, saying that it was unacceptable to table such an amendment with the local council elections just around the corner. Some members also said that such an amendment would not only take away the rights of candidates but others as well.
The Local Councils Act stipulates that anyone over the age of 18 can contest the local council elections and it does not have a maximum age-limit for candidates.
Last year, Parliament amended the Constitution setting an age limit of 30 to 65 years for the presidency and vice presidency.