According to Mengkibol assemblyman Chew Chong Sin, the Johor government proposed amendments to the state assembly laws last month allowing for the appointment of five assemblymen.

Chew wondered if these appointed assemblymen could properly represent the public as they would not have to contest in an election, engage voters, serve a constituency or run a service centre.

He also asked if the state government was satisfied with the performance of the present assemblymen from Barisan Nasional.

“Are these assemblymen not taking care of the wellbeing of their constituents?” he said in a Facebook post.

Chew also said that elected representatives playing the role of checks and balances were not informed of the proposed amendments, describing it as “regrettable”.

He said it would be better to increase the number of state assembly sittings, noting that each meeting convenes for fewer than 20 days each year.

If the proposal for appointed assemblymen is passed, he said, then there should be proportional representation, to encourage moderate politics and for more inclusive representation.

“Whatever institutional reforms are carried out must strengthen, not weaken, democracy,” he said.