MELAKA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) has pledged to repeal the state law allowing the appointment of seven Melaka assemblymen if it wins the 16th state election.
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said the savings from abolishing the appointed seats would be channelled towards homeownership assistance for young people and programmes to develop young entrepreneurs.
He said the proposal was part of PH’s Aspirasi Melaka Rumah Kita manifesto, which focuses on residents’ needs, particularly those of the younger generation.
“The provision allowing seven appointed assembly members was approved by the State Legislative Assembly under the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
“If the people of Melaka give PH the mandate, we will abolish these seven appointed seats,” he told a daily press conference at the PH operations centre in Bukit Baru today.
Adly said PH also planned to reopen the chief minister’s official residence at Seri Bendahara for regular meet-the-people sessions if it returned to power.
He said the initiative, introduced during PH’s administration in 2018, would allow residents to raise concerns directly with state leaders and seek solutions.
“We held these sessions every Friday when PH governed Melaka, and many of the issues raised could be resolved through direct engagement between residents and state leaders,” he said.
Adly, who is also PH’s Bukit Katil candidate, called on voters to support the coalition’s candidates, who are contesting 24 of the state’s 28 seats.
He said PH wanted the opportunity to demonstrate its ability to represent constituents, address local concerns and deliver on its election pledges.
“Give us the opportunity to serve in the Melaka State Assembly. We want to prove our capabilities through constituency work, legislative action and policies that deliver on our pledges. Your vote is a trust we will not squander,” he said.
Adly also called on Melaka voters living outside the state to plan their journeys home ahead of polling this Saturday.
He encouraged voters to cast their ballots early, preferably in the morning, as rain was common in the afternoon.