JOHOR POLLS | Muda has questioned BN's move to introduce more "professionals" into the Johor state assembly through appointments, asking why the coalition could not instead field them as election candidates.
The party also cautioned against using the new provision as a political bargaining tool after the state election.
Muda president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz today said Muda has made repealing the provision one of its election pledges in the ongoing Johor polls after the state assembly passed the amendments during its final sitting last month.
“If you want experts in the state legislative assembly, then as a major party contesting many seats and with ample resources, you should field experts as your election candidates.
“Why do you need to rely on appointed assemblypersons?” Amira told reporters after a joint press conference with Muda’s Puteri Wangsa candidate Rashifa Aljunied at the constituency’s operations centre today.
The Johor state legislative assembly last month passed amendments allowing the appointment of up to five non-elected assemblypersons to strengthen the composition and functions of the legislative institution.
In tabling the amendments, caretaker menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the appointments would broaden participation in the state assembly and enhance debates and policymaking.
However, the new provision has also fuelled speculation over unofficial seat negotiations between political parties ahead of official nominations on Saturday.
Political observers also pointed to possible requests to appoint non-elected assemblypersons in exchange for votes, citing a reported “instruction” from PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man for party members to vote for BN candidates in 45 seats not contested by the Islamist party.
While declining to comment on alleged negotiations involving other parties, Amira warned against using appointed assemblyperson positions as political bargaining chips.
“Don’t use appointed assemblyperson positions as a form of political currency to strike barter deals between parties,” the incumbent Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson said.
Against power abuse
Earlier during the press conference, Amira said the party’s four candidates, including Rashifa, have committed to speaking up against the alleged “abuse of power” by the previous state administration.
“First, we want to repeal the most absurd enactment of all: the provision for appointed assemblypersons. This is the enactment that most undermines the people’s rights.
“After the election, we’ll see how those who contested and lost, or those who were not selected to contest, end up asking to be appointed as assemblypersons,” she added.
The Muda president pointed out that these appointed representatives will receive a salary and pension, yet they will not have a constituency to serve or be accountable to the people.
“Appointed assemblypersons are a form of abuse of power because the government effectively gets five free votes in the state assembly,” she stressed.
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. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.