PH candidate vows to abolish appointed assemblymen in state assembly

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan candidate for Pekan Nanas, Yeo Tung Siong, has vowed to push for the abolition of appointed assemblymen if he wins in the Johor state election this Saturday.

Yeo, from DAP, said having unelected assemblymen in the state legislative assembly runs contrary to democratic principles, Sin Chew Daily reported.

He said if elected, he would table a motion to repeal the relevant provision in the Johor state constitution.

“Even if PH secures a majority in Johor (and takes over the state government), my stance will remain unchanged.

“I will oppose the appointment of assemblymen by a PH state government,” he was quoted as saying while campaigning.

Yeo also criticised Barisan Nasional assemblymen for passing a constitutional amendment in May that allows the appointment of five unelected assemblymen, increasing the total number of state assembly members to 61.

The proposal drew criticism from opposition parties, BN’s allies in the federal government, including DAP and PKR, as well as civil society groups.

Separately, former Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik of DAP warned that BN could appoint representatives from PAS, Bersatu, Parti Wawasan Negara and Gerakan as appointed assemblymen if the coalition secured a landslide victory in Saturday’s election.

Yeo is looking to wrest the state seat back from BN’s Tan Eng Meng in a straight fight on Saturday.

The DAP man held the seat for two terms before losing the seat to Tan, of MCA, in the last state polls in March 2022.