Speaking at an event at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Lim said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who recently shot down the idea of reinstating local council elections, may not have the latest information on racial polarisation in local councils.

The Iskandar Puteri MP said racial polarisation in local councils was corrected in 2010 and most councils were dominated by Malays.

“Of 148 local council areas, 122 are Malay-majority while 13 others are not controlled by any one race and are mixed.”

He said only Sibu, Kuching and Penang had Chinese-majority populations.

“I think maybe (Mahathir) did not get the latest information,” he said at the Majlis Sekolah Malam: Mahu ke Mana Malaysia event here.

For years, civil society groups and political parties, including the DAP and PKR, have been pushing for the re-introduction of local council elections.

Lim also commented on Damansara MP Tony Pua’s shock loss at the Selangor DAP election, saying it was because Pua had lost touch with the grassroots.

Lim said Pua had been too focused on national issues and policies.

“It can’t be denied that Pua contributed a lot to the party and country but politicians must also always be in touch with the grassroots.”

Over the weekend, Pua, the former Selangor DAP chairman did not garner enough votes to make it into the Selangor chapter’s committee.