By FMT staff
GEORGE TOWN: A prominent social activist said today that the main objective of the third-vote democratic process should be “to make local government more local”.
To achieve this, Penang Heritage Trust trustee, Datuk Anwar Fazal, suggested that state administrations create local community councils and conduct elections to choose their members.
He said that a two-tiered local government should be formed -- a bigger one to govern a large metropolitan area and a smaller one to oversee a smaller neighbourhood area.
He said that with the help of the local community councils, the metropolitan councils could reach out to the people efficiently.
On the other hand, Anwar said the people would take part directly in the democratic process of electing local councils near to them.
He added that local community councils would create a democratic platform for voters to voice their opinions, demands and aspirations effectively in order to upgrade the standard of living of their respective neighbourhoods.
He said currently unelected municipalities and councillors were staying aloof and were not aware of local needs and demands.
“Thus, the main task of local government elections is to make local municipalities more local.
“Local community councils can pave the way for this (to happen),” said Anwar, who is also a director of non-governmental organisation Citizens International.
The local factor
He said the local community councils can draw on the administrative experience of members of the Rukun Tetanggas (neighbourhood watch groups), resident associations (RAs) and village safety and development committee (JKKKs).
“Voters can elect experienced and reliable members of RTs, RAs and JKKKs as their community council representatives.
“The local factor will bring voters closer to their elected representatives and vice-versa,” said Anwar, who once served as Penang City Council assistant executive secretary between 1965 and 1972.
Currently, he noted that the people had been denied the right to have a say in local governance of their neighbourhoods.
Last year, heading a 10-man special committee on local government affairs under the state local government consultative council, Anwar carried out a study to improve and upgrade the performance and delivery of local councils.
In its report, the special committee strongly recommended to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng-led Pakatan Rakyat government to conduct polls for its two municipal councils in the island (MPPP) and mainland Seberang Perai (MPSP).
The report also urged the state government to seek city status for George Town, which the Lim’s government had already done.
It also advised the DAP-dominated state government to hold local community council polls to “make local government more local”.
“We can have two major metropolitan councils and about 50 local community councils.
“Under the system, metropolitan councils could reach out to the people and deliver services effectively to neighbourhoods via community councils,” said Anwar.
The report also recommended that metropolitian councils employ a permanent officer, preferably from the same neighbourhood, to liaise with each community council.
“A liaison officer will have direct information on the needs and aspirations of local neighbourhoods.
“This will improve the council’s delivery system,” said Anwar.
