Scrapping law to appoint unelected reps a Muda priority, says president

JOHOR BAHRU: One of Muda’s key priorities if elected to the Johor legislative assembly is to push for the abolition of the constitutional amendment that allows the appointment of five unelected assemblymen.

Muda president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said it was one of the most “illogical laws” because it undermines the people’s rights.

“Muda wants to enter the state assembly and fight to get rid of this law,” she told reporters at its operations room in Puteri Wangsa today.

Amira said the party wants to prevent defeated or overlooked candidates from seeking consolation appointments as nominated assemblymen after elections.

She was responding to speculation that PAS might seek a nominated assemblyman’s post from BN if the coalition formed the government again.

On May 7, the Johor state assembly passed a constitutional amendment bill allowing for the appointment of five unelected assemblymen, increasing the total number of state representatives to 61.

The bill was supported by 40 of the 56 assemblymen.

Amira said Johor Umno had previously justified the new law on the grounds that the additional assemblymen would bring expertise to the state assembly.

However, she argued that expert views should instead be channelled through special select committees before being debated in the assembly.

“If you want experts in the assembly, then as a major party contesting many seats and with the resources to do so, field experts as your election candidates. Why use nominated assemblymen?” she said.

She said that as long as the law remained, nominated assemblymen posts would continue to be used as leverage in post-election negotiations.

Muda is fielding four candidates in the July 11 Johor election. It formed a political pact with Parti Sosialis Malaysia, which is contesting one seat.

Amira held the Puteri Wangsa seat before the dissolution of the state assembly.