Abdul Halim says there should not be ‘unity’ councillors in Johor.
ALL Johor Barisan Nasional component parties have handed in their candidate lists for local authority councillors.
It is learnt that Umno, MCA and MIC handed their candidate lists to the Johor government late last year to fill the 363 positions at the state’s 16 local councils.
Johor Umno secretary Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman said that each of the 26 party divisions in the state have proposed candidates.
“We sent the list to the state government for vetting,” he said when contacted.
When asked if the new councillors could involve representatives from the unity government, Abdul Halim said it would not happen.
“We have a strong majority in the state assembly following our victory in the March 2022 state election, which led to the formation of a Barisan Nasional- led government in Johor.
Ling says MCA nominated 127 individuals as councillors.
“Furthermore, the unity government was formed only after the last general election in November 2022.
“So as the unity government came into the picture much later than the state government, there should not be any ‘unity’ councillors in Johor local councils.”
State MCA deputy chairman Ling Tian Soon said that the party had 127 names on its list which was submitted last December.
However, the Yong Peng assemblyman, who is also state health and unity committee chairman, said that the state government had extended the present councillors’ terms until March 31.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was appointed Johor Umno chairman in December so he needs more time to look into the nominees, said Ling.
Vidyananthan: MIC listed a good mix of fresh and experienced faces.
Johor MIC chairman R. Vidyananthan, who is also Kahang assemblyman, said it submitted 35 names to the state government.
“Our list is a good mix of fresh and experienced faces.”
Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the state government made the decision to extend the current councillors’ term during the state executive council meeting in Dec 19 last year.
“The term for all 363 councillors including 16 chief whips at the respective local authorities was from Aug 1, 2022 until Dec 31, 2023.
“However, the state government decided to extend their service from Jan 1 until March 31.
“This is so the process of appointing the new councillors can be carried out.”
There are three city councils, six municipal councils and seven district councils in Johor.
