MELAKA: The Terengganu government will appoint a Chinese member of Gerakan as a state assemblyman to represent the community, which currently has no representation in the state assembly.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the proposal had been studied for several months and approved by the Terengganu State Executive Council.
“What I want to say is that we have noted there is no representation from the non-Malay communities in Terengganu.
“I want to announce today that we have agreed to appoint one state assemblyman from the Chinese community because the Terengganu State Constitution has a provision to appoint any race or gender that has no representation,” he said.
He made the announcement during a campaign event for the Melaka state election, in a video recorded and posted on Facebook. He was accompanied by Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau.
Samsuri said that he had discussed the proposal with Lau several times and gathered the views of other colleagues.
The decision will be finalised at the state assembly sitting on Nov 16 and 17, he said.
“I hope this is good news for everyone, and it is our shared commitment to the Chinese community in Terengganu,” Samsuri said.
In a caption accompanying the video, the Terengganu government said the appointment was intended to broaden representation and serve as a bridge between the state government and the state’s multiracial communities.
Under Article 27(2) of the Terengganu State Constitution, the state government may appoint up to four assemblymen to represent minority ethnic groups, religions or genders that lack representation among the elected members.