Dame Jennifer Smith has been featured in a Malaysian newspaper encouraging people of all ages, especially young children, to get involved in politics.

"The suitable age at which a child should learn about politics is from the moment he or she can talk," she told The New Straits Times in Malaysia.

The former Premier is acting as deputy speaker at the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary (CPA) Conference taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She is joined by Minister of Environment Neletha Butterfield, Senator Charles Swan and Clerk to the Legislature Shernette Wolffe.

The conference called 'Expanding the Role of Parliament in Global Society: Environment Development and Security' will explore issues such as the environment, women and corruption in small states.

Dame Jennifer told The New Straits Times that the Island's voting age was reduced from 25 to 21, then recently to 18 and said: "Age does not determine maturity.

"There are a lot of older people who do not vote responsibly as well."

She mentioned it had taken her 17 years and six attempts to win her parliamentary seat in 1989 and that she received lots of support from young people on the Island.

She has also witnessed young children taking an interest in politics over the years, she said: "There are schoolchildren who say to me 'Hey, I voted for you'.

"I said, 'No you didn't. You're just five'. Then the child said 'No no, it's my family who voted for you'."

"That's how involved they are," she continued. "You know, you can't wait until people are 16 to 18 to talk to them."

Schools should teach civic studies, Dame Jennifer said, in order for young people to learn the importance of voting and what it means to be a contributing member of the community.

"But I don't think they should teach partisan politics," she said. "I think politicians in each constituency should be doing what they can do to ensure that the children are involved.

"Let the young people speak to other young people. Start from within the family. Let them talk to their friends on what they understand about politics."

Dame Jennifer and the other parliamentarians will be taking part in the conference until Sunday.

The New Straits Times is one of the oldest English language papers in its region with a circulation of roughly 200,000.