Gabungan Demokrasi Tempatan (Dekat) welcomes Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s statement in the Dewan Rakyat on 14 July that the Perikatan Nasional government (PN) is still conducting studies on the feasibility of instituting local council elections in the country.
Dekat, a coalition of 10 non-governmental organisations advocating for the restoration of local council elections, was formed in August 2019. Since then, we have had several meetings with Zuraida and her ministry officers to discuss steps to prepare a research and working paper. The change of government in early March this year and the movement control order to curb the spread of Covid-19 has put a halt to our discussion and work plan.
Dekat and its pool of experts stand ready to assist the minister in carrying out the necessary research on local council elections and the consultation with stakeholders, and to propose implementation plans by mid-2021 for the cabinet to consider the restoration of local council elections.
We believe that local council elections would make local government officers like mayors and councillors more accountable to the ratepayers they are serving and would bring about improved services, usher in innovations and curb corrupt practices.
The overall cost of conducting council elections would be more than offset by savings in wastage due to inefficiencies and corruption under the current practice of appointed councillors. It would also encourage greater citizen participation and sense of ownership by citizens in the improvement and development of communities around the country.
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Dekat hopes to engage with all stakeholders, especially those who have concerns, so that we could understand their concerns, allay these concerns with updated facts, and propose workable solutions to bridge the gaps between those who support the restoration of local council elections and those who oppose it. It is our firm belief that empowering citizens with the third vote (or second vote for the federal territories) would bring about immeasurable benefits for all Malaysians regardless of ethnicity, industry or socioeconomic backgrounds.
Update: Zuraida later said on 6 August that the Perikatan Nasional government is not going ahead with local elections, in the wake of objections from Umno MPs.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
