Pahang votes to have nominated reps, opposition stages walk-out

 

The Pahang state assembly has approved a constitutional amendment that would allow up to five people to become state legislators by appointment instead of being voted into office.

This prompted the opposition to stage a walk-out in protest.

Under the Laws of the Constitution of Pahang (Second Part) (Amendment) Bill 2020, a person can be appointed as a Pahang state assembly member if the motion for the appointment is supported by seven assemblypersons and is approved by a simple majority.

It states no more than five members of the state legislative assembly may be appointed in this manner.

The amendment bill was approved with 33 votes in favour of the new measure.

For the record, there are currently 42 seats in the state legislature, of which 25 are controlled by BN and another eight by PAS. The eight opposition representatives present had walked-out of the session.

Speaking at a press conference after the walk-out, Triang assemblyperson Leong Yu Mang rubbished the state government’s claim that the move was meant to improve minority representation in the state assembly.

She claimed the move would only help the government consolidate power, especially if the government and the opposition have similar numbers of elected representatives.

Meanwhile, Ketari assemblyperson Young Syefura Othman said that if the BN-led government really wants to ensure minority representation, it should field minorities as candidates in safe seats in the next election.

Tanah Rata assemblyperson Chiong Yoke Kong, meanwhile, proposed another way to ensure minority representation in the legislature.

“Anyone who wants to take part in the state assembly sessions must have legitimacy based on votes.

“Therefore to respond to the state government’s excuse that the measure is meant to champion the minorities, if they really want to champion minorities, they can propose to the Election Commission to set up an electoral system that can protect minorities, namely proportional representation,” he said.

Under such a system, he said a party that loses an election but still has a sufficient proportion of popular votes will have seats in the state assembly. This would not be undemocratic because it is based on people’s votes, he added.

Meanwhile, the amendment bill also stipulates that an appointed member’s appointment can also be terminated by the Pahang sultan upon the advice of the menteri besar if deemed to be of “national interest”.

It states the state government would have sole discretion on what constitutes “national interest” for this purpose and its decision cannot be questioned in court. - Mkini