Johor Pakatan Harapan has opposed a move to add up to five appointed state assemblypersons in the state, arguing that electoral redelineation would be a more appropriate solution to strengthen democratic representation.
In a statement today, the coalition urged the Johor government and the Election Commission to study a redelineation exercise to ensure fairer and more balanced representation in line with current population developments.
“The last redelineation exercise was carried out in March 2018 and has now exceeded the eight years allocated for electoral boundary reviews,” it said.
The statement was jointly issued by Johor Amanah chairperson and Johor Pakatan Harapan chairperson Aminolhuda Hassan, Johor PKR chairperson Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and Johor DAP chairperson Teo Nie Ching.
On May 7, the Johor state legislative assembly passed a bill to amend the state enactment, allowing for the appointment of up to five non-elected state assemblypersons to strengthen the composition and functions of the legislative institution.
The bill to amend Part Two, Clause 15 of the Johor Constitution 1985 was passed after securing more than two-thirds support, with 40 assemblypersons in favour and 16 opposing it.
Based on Johor’s electoral roll as of December 2025, Harapan said the state has 2,717,495 voters across 56 state constituencies, averaging about 48,526 voters per constituency.
Imbalances between constituencies
However, Harapan said rapid population growth and migration, especially in urban and suburban areas, had resulted in significant imbalances between constituencies.
It cited Kota Iskandar with 131,330 voters compared to Tenang with around 23,000 voters, describing the gap of more than 100,000 voters as disproportionate in terms of democratic representation.
According to the statement prepared by Johor Harapan communications director Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, six Johor constituencies have more than 100,000 voters - Kota Iskandar, Puteri Wangsa, Tiram, Permas, Perling and Skudai.
Another eight constituencies - Johor Jaya, Stulang, Larkin, Kempas, Senai, Penggaram, Mengkibol and Mahkota - have between 50,000 and 100,000 voters, while the remaining 42 constituencies have fewer than 50,000 voters.
Johor Harapan said redelineation was important to ensure elected representatives are not overburdened to the point it affects their ability to provide effective and responsive services to constituents.
It also said voter numbers are expected to continue rising due to developments linked to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Rapid Transit System project.
“Therefore, a more even and balanced distribution of voters is fairer and more in line with the democratic principle of ‘one person, one vote’,” it said.
The coalition added that appointed assemblypersons should not be used as an “easy solution” to issues of representation, and that priority should instead be given to redelineation reform and strengthening democratic institutions.
It also announced plans to launch a signature campaign opposing the proposal, both physically and online.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, when tabling the bill at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Iskandar Puteri, said the proposed appointments were aimed at broadening participation in the state legislative assembly, especially through the involvement of individuals with expertise and experience to enhance debate and the policymaking process. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.