PETALING JAYA: The issue on whether local council elections should be held is being debated again, with many weighing its pros and cons.
While those for it point out the advantages, others say the government should focus on more important matters rather than implementing a proposal that the country was not ready for.
MPs were also split, with a PKR MP saying there was a need to raise awareness on the role of local councils and such elections, while a PAS MP said it would lead to discrimination.
Among the advantages cited by analysts is that such elections would reduce the dominance of political parties in local governments and the people would be able to vote in only those genuinely interested in serving them at the local level.
As for the naysayers, the main reasons they cited included cost, voting fatigue and increasing the burden on local councils.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said an in-depth study on the issue would provide better context and understanding on whether to have local council polls.
“As our politics is skewed towards ethnic politics, local council elections are always referred as a benefit for one and disadvantage to another. An in-depth study would conclude why it is important, or if it should not even be brought up for discussion at all,” he said when contacted yesterday.Sivamurugan said if the unity government was to consider holding local council elections, it must have the political will and focus on how the process and approach will empower the needs and demands of the people.
“Without common understanding, it will divide us further. Also, demography and geography, and the urban-rural divide should seriously be considered to avoid confusion,” he added.
Universiti Malaya’s Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said the country should first focus on its priorities such as boosting the economy and reducing the cost of living.
“What is the point of holding local elections and putting ourselves on the same level of developed nations if our people are hungry? We are still in the developing phase so we must be realistic in choosing our priorities.
“There is no need to do cosmetic changes just to entertain the political lust of some parties while neglecting the people’s welfare,” he said.
Mohammad Tawfik said given that voters were losing confidence in politicians, leaders should work on regaining their trust instead of forcing an idea that was not well understood.
“We have not held local council elections in a very long time. Our youth today don’t even know we used to have this, so we need time to get them to understand the concept,” he added.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, who is also PKR communications director, said it was important for political leaders to engage on the issue and educate the public.
He said if the unity government were to implement elections involving local councils, engagement must start internally within the ruling coalitions (Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional) and their component parties, and then move on to the people.
PAS’ Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim said his party and the Perikatan Nasional coalition rejected the idea as the racial composition in urban areas was “not balanced.”
“We are still facing a problem in terms of racial arrangement in urban areas where the composition does not reflect the reality of (the different races) in Malaysia,” he said.
Recently, Kuala Lumpur DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai suggested the government reinstate local elections and start implementing it in the capital.
He said reintroducing local elections in Kuala Lumpur would provide sustainability and give residents the right to select their city council representatives.
Under Pakatan rule in 2018, the then local government and housing minister had envisioned reinstating local council elections but the idea was scrapped after then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it would create racial conflict and widen the urban-rural gap.
Local government elections in Malaysia were suspended in 1965 following the Proclamation of Emergency during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and was later replaced with appointment of mayoral or council members by the state governments.
