BERSIH has condemned Bersatu chairman Muhyiddin Yassin’s promise of political appointments to government-linked companies for Perikatan Nasional leaders if the coalition wins the elections in six states.

The election watchdog said the offer contravenes good governance and is tantamount to power abuse.

“GLCs exist to safeguard and grow public wealth and are not political parties’ ATMs to put party loyalists on the state’s payroll. In openly declaring his intention, we also wonder if it is a form of vote buying to secure the support of certain groups,” the Bersih steering committee said in a statement today.

“This form of political patronage has unfortunately become part of our political culture and that of successive governments, including the current unity government, which is guilty of appointing either elected or unelected politicians to the boards of GLCs.”

In an interview with FMT, Muhyiddin said in the lead-up to state elections, PN has agreed on how the administrative posts would be distributed among the component parties if it wins.

Muhyiddin said PN, which is contesting all 245 seats up for grabs in the six state elections, wishes to avoid bickering over top positions in government and state GLCs should it win any or all of the states of Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

To this, Bersih said that no elected representative should be appointed to a GLC as his primary responsibility is to their voters and be lawmakers.

“For unelected politicians, we must put in place a clear and rigorous process to ensure transparency and that only suitably qualified individuals are appointed as they are entrusted with public assets,” it said.

“Voters must vote wisely in the upcoming state elections to ensure that parties or candidates who are committed to institutional reforms to end corruption are elected so that our country can be freed from the scourge of political patronage and corruption.” – July 1, 2023.