Local Government Elections in Penang: Gimmick or Real Deal?

Yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the state government must sue the federal government and the EC to compel the commission to conduct the local government elections here.

Lim said that the state legislature has jurisdiction to call for local elections under the Ninth Schedule and Article 113 (4) of the Federal Constitution.

“There is nothing in the Federal Constitution that says the state government can compel the EC to conduct local government elections,” Baljit said.

He told The Malaysian Insider that the state government also has the manpower and funds to hold the local government elections without the EC.

If this is the case, what stops the Penang government from holding the local government elections? Straight Talk reiterates its support for the reinstatement of local government elections. Local councillors should be responsible directly to the people and not merely act as political appointees working for the benefit of locally elected state assemblymen. 

I agree with Gerakan Legal Bureau chief Baljit Singh that the state government can conduct its own elections without having to wait for EC to do it for them since they have the manpower and funds to do so. 

I would like to urge BN Penang chairman Teng Chang Yeow, who is Baljit's party boss, to support the call for local government elections be held within the next 60 days.

Penang Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed the Local Government Elections (Penang Island and Province Wellesley) Enactment 2012 on 9 May 2012.

Hence, barring any legal challenges from the Barisan Nasional federal government or the Election Commission, local government elections must be held in Penang within 180 days from the day the enactment has been enforced.

Both PR and BN should immediately agree on the Local Government Elections date to discourage any attempt to politicize the situation for the next GE. I am sure a number of individuals would be encouraged to participate in the elections and eventually serve as the first batch of elected councillors since the 60's. 

Penang CM Lim Guan Eng should have gone ahead with the local government elections after the enactment was approved last year. It will make more political sense for him to fulfill his party's pledge to bring back local government elections and face a lawsuit from the EC and Federal Government.

Unless, like what Baljit has alleged, Lim is only using this summons as an election gimmick to bolster his coalition's chance in the next GE.