Those of us who have been pushing for a third vote should be glad that both Penang and Selangor have decided to restore local council elections.
Selangor will emulate Penang in restoring local council elections in the state, said Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
Local council elections which was called off since 1964 should be restored immediately. Some local councils had implemented unscrupulous and non-beneficial projects using their council funds which were contributed by tax payers.
As a result, a number of local councils are facing acute financial problem. This problem has hampered their ability to serve the people by supplying essential amenities and providing good local services.
A negative reaction by the Election Commission to disallow the requests of both Penang and Selangor to restore local council elections will make the commission totally irrelevant in a democratic context. The role of election commission is to help facilitate elections and to ensure that the process is being implemented fairly and smoothly.
Barisan led state governments should emulate the decision to restore local council elections too. A refusal to allow a third vote will put the coalition's 1Malaysia pledge: People's first under scrutiny.
The only way for Barisan to win back multiracial support is to prove that it is pro-democracy and not autocracy or neo-feudalism.
Supporters of a third vote and activists should now stand behind these two state governments to help restore local council elections now.
5 comments:
Have you forgotten that the Election Commission of Malaysia can also determine which seats are deemed vacent ?
Hi KHOO,
This is POLITICS & politics is all about sustaining and empowering the ones in-charges. This is the way the game is played (like it or not)
Although on ‘the rakyat’ behalf, we crave for People’s Power whereby ‘the rakyat’ rule the country but honestly would this bring more advantages than disadvantages?
If we were to give too much power to ‘the rakyat’, I foresee the country will go into some kind of chaos. Everybody will want to have a say in everything & sometimes ‘one rakyat’ suggestions goes into clash with another suggestion given by another so-called ‘rakyat’. Thus, all this will slowly snowball into an effect whereby our beloved country will lose out in many ways because everybody will be overly enthusiastic over the newly found ‘People’s Power’. This will also result the ‘Government of the day’ to have many difficulties in implementing any developments simply because there are too many RED TAPES with the existence of Local Elections (e.g.) Local councilors in Pakatan Rakyat led States objecting BN’s implementation & vice-versa.
In order for a country to progress, we need to have a solid party leading it. When there’s too many entity ruling/influencing the country, conflicts will be inevitable resulting delays in all aspects of progress & developments. Take a look at our current political scenario whereby we have BN & Pakatan Rakyat. It’s only 2 entities but the problems seems to be NEVER ENDING resulting in no whatsoever progress to the country in any aspect.
Imagine if we create one more entity (Local Elections), it will be even worse. I reckon to wait for the time whereby only 1 ruling party becomes absolutely strong over the other (either BN or PR), only then ‘Local Elections’ are to be held.
Implementing Local Elections during such a messy time will NOT bring any good but only to create more mess in our current political scene.
TOKZ,
Funny, the country had had a strong one regime control for 44 years since the abolition of local council elections yet it did nothing to restore it.
Democracy cannot be trampled by such a flimsy reason. We deserve our choice. Your arguement is encouraging politicians to create a mess in order to avoid elections.
Sometimes I wonder.....
Are "they" really for the rakyat or NOT...?
I am all for local council elections. We are all responsible for our own actions and none more so that our choice of leaders. The current politicians are mostly self-serving people, having no qualms to milk the country dry by squeezing the poor and enriching themselves. Positions of power like council heads are fertile ground for their harvest. Making them accountable to the Rakyat will limit their greed. Furthermore, I have had enough of the political civil service and little napoleans. Nothing like an election to keep them on their toes.
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