ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor Legislative Assembly has passed a proposal to amend the state constitution to allow the appointment of five nominated state assemblymen.
Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi tabled the Bill at the state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar here on Thursday (May 7).
He proposed amending Article 15 of the Second Part of the Law of the Constitution of 1895 to insert the words “not exceeding five appointed members” after “fifty-six”.
“This would then bring the 56-seat state assembly to 61,” he said.
He added that the nominated assemblyman shall be appointed on a motion supported by at least seven members of the legislative assembly, approved by a simple majority, and with the Ruler’s assent.
The Bill received a two-thirds majority to amend the state law, with 40 assemblymen voting for it and the remainder against.
Johor Speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi announced the approval.
The 56-seat Johor Legislative Assembly comprises 40 representatives from Barisan Nasional, 12 from Pakatan Harapan, three from Perikatan Nasional and one from Muda.
Earlier, the state’s Opposition assemblymen, including Amira Aisya Abd Aziz (Muda-Puteri Wangsa), urged the state government to reconsider the proposal, as it remains unclear and requires further scrutiny.
She said any policy involving fundamental changes to the composition of the state assembly should be handled cautiously, with input from all stakeholders, including elected representatives.
