JOHOR BARU: A state executive councillor has defended the Johor government's decision to appoint 10 deputy state executive councillors, saying the move's benefits to the people far outweigh its administrative costs.
Johor youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the appointments were not meant to add bureaucracy or create positions for the sake of it, but were an effort to strengthen the government's service delivery.
“I am aware that some parties have claimed these appointments will waste public funds or increase the government's financial burden.
“Such views should be assessed objectively and based on facts, rather than political perceptions alone.
"The actual cost of delayed decision-making, poorly monitored projects, inefficient service delivery and prolonged public issues is far greater than the cost of strengthening the government's administrative capacity,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 23).
He said an efficient government should not be measured by the number of positions it creates, but by how effectively it delivers services to the people.
“If the appointments can help resolve public issues more quickly, improve the implementation of development projects, strengthen the leadership's presence on the ground and ensure government policies are carried out more effectively, then the benefits to the people far outweigh the administrative costs involved.
"Today, people do not judge a government by the number of positions it creates, but by the effectiveness of its administration, how quickly it resolves issues, the quality of its service delivery and the tangible results of its development efforts," he said.
Hairi also noted that Johor is one of the fastest-growing states in Malaysia, with a population of more than four million.
"The rapid pace of economic development, the influx of foreign investments, strategic projects, infrastructure development and the growing needs of the people have significantly expanded the scope and complexity of each state executive councillor's responsibilities," he said.
Hairi added that similar administrative models were already practised in other states, citing Sabah's assistant ministers, Sarawak's deputy ministers and Melaka's deputy state executive councillors as examples.
In a separate statement earlier, Johor Pakatan Harapan questioned the appointments, stressing that Johoreans deserve an explanation for the move.
“If the objective is leadership development or portfolio support, such reasoning should be stated openly together with measurable performance indicators.
“Administrative reform cannot simply mean creating more offices; it must demonstrate better governance.
“A government that is confident in its decisions should have no hesitation in explaining them to the people it serves.
“Transparency is not a political concession; it is a democratic obligation,” read the statement, adding that the state government has long operated through an established executive structure.
The statement, signed by all six Johor Pakatan assemblymen, called on the state government to publicly explain the policy rationale for establishing the deputy state executive councillor positions.
They also urged the Johor government to make public the responsibilities and legal scope of each appointment, the financial implications for the state, and the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) against which the appointments will be assessed.
On Tuesday (July 22), Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the appointment of 10 deputy state executive councillors.
He said the appointments were part of the state's efforts to strengthen its administration and ensure all its initiatives are carried out effectively.
