00:00Melaka's plan to appoint up to seven assemblymen has come under fire from analysts who argue
00:06the state can access expert advice without creating new posts.
00:10Ilham Centre's Hissomuddin Bakar said the Barisan Nasional-led government already commands
00:15a two-thirds majority in the Assembly, making the appointments hard to justify.
00:21He said experts could instead serve as advisers or sit on technical committees.
00:26Critics also warned the new positions would increase state spending.
00:31Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting agreed, saying assemblymen should
00:36be legitimised through elections.
00:39Earlier this week, the Melaka Assembly passed a constitutional amendment to enable the appointments.
00:45Chief Minister Abdul Rauf Yusso said the posts would be filled by experts and professionals.
00:51The move resulted in DAP quitting the state government, arguing that the presence of
00:56appointed assemblymen would undermine democracy.
00:59Shahzah Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia called for transparent, merit-based
01:05appointments.
01:06However, election watchdog Bursay questioned whether appointed assemblymen could act independently,
01:12especially if the government could remove them from office.
01:15Amardeep Gill, FMT.
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