'Pahang MB will have unchecked power' - Bersih blasts unelected rep move
The Coalition of Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has decried the creation of up to five unelected seats of State Legislative Assembly Members in Pahang, calling it an insidious attempt to usurp democracy and give unchecked power to Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
"By expanding the total of state representatives from 42 to 47, more than expanding the BN-PN coalition government’s current majority from 33-9 up to 38-9, it will give the MB an absolute power to appoint loyalists as cheerleaders in the state assembly or potential candidates to target opposition-held constituencies with public funds.
"Bersih 2.0 is alarmed that these five bonus seats would make Pahang MB a powerful warlord unchecked not only by the opposition but also by allies in the coalition government.
"And this would come at a whopping RM3 million cost annually borne by Pahang taxpayers," said the election watchdog in a statement today.
Last week, the Pahang state assembly approved a constitutional amendment that would allow up to five people to become state legislators by appointment instead of being voted into office. The controversial move prompted the opposition to stage a walk-out in protest.
"Bersih 2.0 rejects completely MB Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail’s false claim that such appointments are not politically motivated, and the nominated assemblypersons would need to justify their professional qualifications before the appointment.
Bersih 2.0 also said that it categorically debunks Wan Rosdy’s 'bogus excuse' that Pahang needs more assemblypersons to serve the voters on four grounds:
- Pahang reps met only 11 days in the whole of 2019;
- Better services are provided by better funded and more efficient government agencies including elected local authorities, not by increasing assemblypersons;
- With an annual electorate growth rate of around two percent, Pahang has the fourth-lowest voters per assemblypersons ratio (19,619 voters in 2018) in the peninsula, completely dwarfed by Selangor (43,142), Johor (32,464) and Kedah (31,847); and
- If Pahang ever needs more assemblypersons, then the state government should amend the state constitution to increase the number of seats, not creating nominated seats.
Bersih did say that while absolutely opposing unelected bonus seats for government, it did support the introduction of non-constituency lawmakers.
"If legislatures are actively scrutinising governments, with many select committees, non-constituency lawmakers with policy expertise may contribute substantively to lawmaking and policy formulation," it said.
However, Bersih said such lawmakers can be elected on a separate party-list ballot alongside the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) ballot for constituency representatives, as in Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Italy.
"By expanding the total of state representatives from 42 to 47, more than expanding the BN-PN coalition government’s current majority from 33-9 up to 38-9, it will give the MB an absolute power to appoint loyalists as cheerleaders in the state assembly or potential candidates to target opposition-held constituencies with public funds.
"Bersih 2.0 is alarmed that these five bonus seats would make Pahang MB a powerful warlord unchecked not only by the opposition but also by allies in the coalition government.
"And this would come at a whopping RM3 million cost annually borne by Pahang taxpayers," said the election watchdog in a statement today.
Last week, the Pahang state assembly approved a constitutional amendment that would allow up to five people to become state legislators by appointment instead of being voted into office. The controversial move prompted the opposition to stage a walk-out in protest.
"Bersih 2.0 rejects completely MB Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail’s false claim that such appointments are not politically motivated, and the nominated assemblypersons would need to justify their professional qualifications before the appointment.
Bersih 2.0 also said that it categorically debunks Wan Rosdy’s 'bogus excuse' that Pahang needs more assemblypersons to serve the voters on four grounds:
- Pahang reps met only 11 days in the whole of 2019;
- Better services are provided by better funded and more efficient government agencies including elected local authorities, not by increasing assemblypersons;
- With an annual electorate growth rate of around two percent, Pahang has the fourth-lowest voters per assemblypersons ratio (19,619 voters in 2018) in the peninsula, completely dwarfed by Selangor (43,142), Johor (32,464) and Kedah (31,847); and
- If Pahang ever needs more assemblypersons, then the state government should amend the state constitution to increase the number of seats, not creating nominated seats.
Bersih did say that while absolutely opposing unelected bonus seats for government, it did support the introduction of non-constituency lawmakers.
"If legislatures are actively scrutinising governments, with many select committees, non-constituency lawmakers with policy expertise may contribute substantively to lawmaking and policy formulation," it said.
However, Bersih said such lawmakers can be elected on a separate party-list ballot alongside the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) ballot for constituency representatives, as in Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Italy.
opps, now only i know its sort of pahang ritual.
ReplyDeleteMany countries also have a quota set aside for Appointed legislators , to help provide representation to minority groups who are thinly spread and would otherwise have little or no chance , first to be selected, then to win normal contested elections.
ReplyDeleteThe time will come when Chinese and Indians will need such representation.
in the senate lah, not in lower house
DeleteSabah ada 6. That was how PAS masuk pintu belakang.
Deletehttps://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/10/10/pas-sees-first-rep-at-sabah-state-assembly
Lynas sudah OK....? No problem....?
ReplyDeleteKtemoc...... what the F* is Lynas ?
Deleteapproved by your Atuk, wakakaka
DeleteWhat the Fuck....don't trade in Fake News.
DeleteKtemoc trying to create "Alternate Facts"
Who the Fuck approved Lynas Operating License in 2012 ?
Atuk's failure was he could not see a way to exit Lynas without damaging Malaysia's foreign investment standing.
There is no world where a country can kick out an already approved and operating foreign investor without suffering reputational consequences.
Glad you agree with me that Atuk approved it during his government, but giving excuses that he did so not wanting to damage Malaysia's foreign investment standing.
DeleteEver heard the term "Fait Accompli" ?
DeleteMaybe Ktemoc never learnt a lesson that some things in life will cost your heavily or will be very tough if you try to change it.
if it's bad for the people's health and safety it should NOT be continued. We don't even know what was the terms of the contract. Only Minister Redzuan was promoting it regardless, whilst Mahathir supported and approved it. We know Mahathir's character from the ugly shameful history A.R.E - he didn't care about safety; he just wanted industrialisation
Deletehttps://m.malaysiakini.com/news/201650
DeleteYour Najib says Lynas is safe.
You should accept your Idol Najib's pronouncements , as you do on everything else.
Monster, you have a reckless irresponsible tendency to accuse
Delete