PSM has urged Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming to restore the local government election instead of focusing on the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA).
Perak PSM committee member K Kunasekaran said that the URA can still be passed, but the public must be given the right to maintain checks and balances against local development decisions.
"Local government election is not a matter of political dominance, but rather to ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability at the grassroots level.
"Every citizen has the right to fair representation in decisions that directly affect their daily lives, regardless of political affiliation," Kunasekaran said in a statement today.
He slammed Nga (above) for previously dismissing the proposal to bring back the local government election.
In late 2023, the minister said it was not a priority, as the country was just recovering from political turmoil and his ministry was focusing on projects that benefit the people.
However, Nga had also alluded to the possible revival of local polls, saying there was a “right time for everything”.
Nga was responding to the Federal Territories DAP’s then proposal to reinstate the local government election in the nation’s capital, following a cabinet reshuffle.
No threat to peace
Kunasekaran condemned claims that local polls can trigger political tension or partisan conflict.
"History has proven that federal (parliamentary) and state elections continue to go ahead even though different parties control different levels of government, without prolonged political tension.
“The people continue to live in peace,” he said.
The same principle should be applied in the local government election so that local administration can be carried out with full participation of the people, he added.
"The 'third vote' aims to ensure good governance, people’s representation and community involvement in local development.
"Therefore, it is unreasonable to argue that tensions will arise simply because the people are given the right to elect their own representatives and participate in local democracy in a meaningful way," he asserted.
Apart from restoring the local election, Kunasekaran also demanded that the people be given the right to elect representatives with the power to monitor laws and policies on issues such as waste management, parking, public safety and urban development.
He also called for democratic representation, transparency and community involvement in all appointments in the local election.
The last local government election was in 1963, after which it was “suspended” indefinitely.
In the decades since, the idea of reviving the third vote has been brought up and shot down multiple times for various reasons. - Mkini
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