Putrajaya has explained that the amendment to Article 119 of the Federal Constitution was designed to ensure that the rulers remain above politics.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the amendments would exempt the rulers, their spouses and their heirs from being automatically enrolled on the voter list.
"However, the choice of whether to (be a voter) or not depends on the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the consent of the Conference of Rulers," he said in a statement today.
A bill to amend Article 119 completed its passage today through Parliament after 50 out of 58 Dewan Negara members voted in the bill's favour.
The bill added Article 119A to the Federal Constitution which stipulated that only the Agong can, by means of a gazette, exempt any of the rulers and their kin from being recorded in the voter list.
