By FMT staff
GEORGE TOWN: More support has poured in for the re-introduction of local council elections but political observers and social activists stressed that the process must be fair, free and independent.
They disapproved of any undue political influence from state and federal governments in determining the outcome of the polls.
The objective, they said, is to let the people determine local governance, which affects their daily lives.
Given that many Malaysians are demanding for local government elections, they said the onus is on the federal government to explain constructively for failing to conduct the polls.
Merdeka Centre director Ibrahim Suffian said a recent study revealed that Malaysians are ready to take part in the third vote process as they have become more mindful about the affairs in the country.
He said the majority of Malaysians are demanding greater democracy, responsibility, accountability and transparency at all levels of government.
“They want to have a say in government operations, more so at the local level which is closer to their home. They are rejecting guided democracy,” he said.
Putrajaya must explain
He said urbanites in particular are demanding local government elections because they want to know how their money is being spent.
“Being ratepayers, they naturally have the right to demand accountability and transparency on councils’ fund management and operations,” he told FMT.
Currently, he pointed out, ratepayers are denied the right to determine council policies and action plans.
Ibrahim said it was time the Umno-dominated federal government heeded public demands to hold local government elections by initiating the necessary legal amendments.
“If the Putrajaya administration fails to do so, it has to explain and justify its decision... with strong and logical reasons,” he said.
Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch chairman D Kandakumar said local elections would encourage people to participate directly at the lowest level of government.
He said compared to parliamentary and state representatives, council representatives are the ones who are supposed to be more service-orientated.
He added that local elections would allow voters to choose service-orientated representatives to fulfil their own local needs and aspirations.
As such, he said, the people could demand that local government implement policies and project plans that fulfil their needs and aspirations.
“The people would be kingmakers in deciding the composition and policies of the councils,” he told FMT.
Malaysian-orientated reps
Dr Wazir Jahan Karim, a consultant in the Academic of Socio-Economic Research and Analysis (Asera), stressed the importance of conducting local elections freely and fairly.
She said manipulations would defeat the purpose of council elections to improve municipal operations, performances and services to cater to growing local needs.
In view of this, she urged the relevant authorities to draw up a list of criteria to ensure that only credible and qualified persons stand for election. It must also vet their background any criminal record.
She disapproved of candidates with strong religious links, such as those associated with Islamic, Hindu, Christian or even Buddhist movements.
Wazir said the candidates should be open-minded persons who practise multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious principles.
“I don’t understand why Malaysians are so faith-orientated when it could be so much better if they embrace an open concept.
“Local government elections would be more meaningful if the elected representatives are Malaysian-orientated,” she told FMT.
BN is afraid of defeat
Penang-based lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira said the federal government should study the late Senator Datuk Athi Nahappan’s 1968 report which made recommendations to restore the third vote.
“What’s the point in conducting a study and preparing a report when one does not want to follow it?” he asked.
He claimed that Barisan Nasional is probably against holding council polls for fear of electoral defeats.
He recalled that the Socialist Front and PPP were enjoying tremendous success at the expense of the Alliance (the predecessor of BN) in local government elections until it was suspended in 1965 following the Indonesian confrontation.
Penang's Pakatan Rakyat government has written to the Election Commission seeking approval to conduct local council elections in the state.
Commenting on this, Darshan said the EC and federal government are obliged to allow the long overdue elections.
He said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng could make a mandamus application to obtain a court order on the EC to conduct the polls if the state government's request is rejected.
