Johor: Deputy EXCO appointments face criticisms!
JOHOR BAHRU — In an unprecedented administrative move, Johor has become the first state in Malaysia to appoint deputy executive council (EXCO) members, following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) decisive victory in the recent state election.
Following the formation of the state government, ten Exco members were sworn in alongside the Menteri Besar. Among them is MIC’s Perling assemblyman, V. Pannir Selvam.
To bolster state governance, the Johor administration introduced a novel framework appointing ten deputy Exco members, a first in any Malaysian state. Under this arrangement, each full Exco member is paired with a backbencher serving as a deputy.
Of the ten newly appointed deputy Exco members, seven are from UMNO, two from MCA, and one from MIC. Notably, Kahang assemblyman V. Rugendran (MIC) has been appointed as a deputy Exco member to assist Pannir Selvam in his portfolio.
While supporters argue that these appointments will strengthen administrative capacity to match Johor’s rapid economic growth, the move has sparked sharp criticism from political opposition.
Opposition figures from DAP and MUDA have voiced strong objections, alleging that the move places an unnecessary financial burden on state coffers. Critics contend that the creation of deputy Exco positions is designed to politically consolidate Barisan Nasional rather than enhance public administration.
MUDA President Amira Aisya Abd Aziz criticised the decision, stating that appointing deputy Exco members constitutes an improper expenditure of public funds. Opponents maintain that the move unnecessarily inflates administrative costs at the taxpayer’s expense.
