KUALA LUMPUR: It is unsuitable to revive local council elections now as the country is still recovering from the political turmoil of the last few years, says Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Development Minister said focus should instead be given to national development and the people’s well-being.
“I have been consistent in my stance since the day I assumed my ministerial role, that our focus should be on development issues.
“Our country is still recovering from the political uncertainty and there is a need to bring down the political temperature,” he told reporters in response to the proposal to reintroduce local council elections.
He said the proposal to hold local council elections needs more time to be considered.
“Everything will happen at the right time. Give me 10 years, then maybe,” he said when met during a visit to Pasar Bazar Rakyat MBSJ in Seri Kembangan yesterday.
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 Harapan 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.
Separately, during yesterday’s event, Nga announced that a fund of RM300,000 will be allocated to upgrade the market.
He also said RM700,000 was disbursed to local authorities nationwide to implement small-scale infrastructure projects in their respective areas this year.
The amount was a 43% increase compared with last year’s allocation and the highest ever made by the ministry.
It involved nearly 5,200 development projects encompassing four main components namely socio-economic, public facilities, safety and infrastructure.
According to the ministry, Sabah, Perak and Johor received the highest allocations at RM96.7mil, RM93.6mil and RM85.7mil respectively.
Melaka, Penang and Perlis received the lowest allocations, at RM21mil, RM12.7mil and RM3.9mil respectively.
As for the number of development projects, Perak had the most at 702, followed by Johor (648), Sabah (586) and Pahang (485).
