No to local council elections which may cause racial strife, says Dr Mahathir

PUTRAJAYA: Local council elections are not part of the Pakatan Harapan government's agenda, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Prime Minister said local government elections may end up causing race-related conflicts in the country.

“Local council elections may produce the wrong results.

"The urban may be different, the rural may be different.. there will be conflicts emphasised by racial differences and the like. So we don't want that to happen.

“No council elections,” said Dr Mahathir at a press conference, after launching the Housing and Local Government Ministry's Local Council Convention here.

Previously, Pakatan had suggested that local government elections may be introduced if it is in power, but this was not expressly promised in its manifesto.