'Penang ever-ready, but up to Putrajaya to restore local polls'

Penang has denied that it has abandoned the idea of local elections, which it pledged to restore in 2008 and 2013.

When questioned at a press conference in Komtar today, Penang housing, local government, town and country planning exco Jagdeep Singh Deo said: "We are ever-ready for it."

"Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has her views and indeed, she has said that local government elections must be revisited.

"In fact, she requested us to brief her on the matter (after assuming office last year), and we went to meet her," he added.

On May 1, Zuraida (photo) said her ministry is expected to amend several laws by the end of next year or early 2021 to reinstate local elections.

This includes Local Government Act 1976, said the minister, who pledged last year to bring back polls for local councils. 

Leaving it to Putrajaya

Jagdeep pointed out that when BN was in Putrajaya, Penang took the issue all the way to the Federal Court, where it was eventually dismissed.

Not all hope is lost, he added, as Pakatan Harapan now controls the federal government. 

"Laws can be amended, even though there is a government ruling," he said at the press conference after presenting his portfolio's one-year report card.

"We now leave it to the federal government to see whether they want to carry on with the matter or not."

Jagdeep also noted that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad previously dismissed the idea of local elections, arguing that such elections might produce racial strife.

Asked if a pilot run can be carried out in Penang to showcase the viability of the local elections, Jagdeep said: "It is up to the federal government to deliberate on it. As I said, we are ever-ready for it."

Malaysia last held local council elections in 1963, before it was suspended the following year.

The temporary suspension became permanent in 1976 when the Parliament passed the Local Government Act, which only provides for the appointment of local councillors.

Although its predecessor Pakatan Rakyat had pledged to reinstate the polls, Harapan made no such promise in its election manifesto, only stating that it would “strengthen local democracy” and make local councils more accountable.

It also promised to amend the Local Government Act "to ensure that this aspiration is realised." -Mkini