Give FT minister time, says Fahmi on call for local polls in KL

 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the federal government would ‘view the entire matter together’. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has called for patience in light of Kuala Lumpur DAP’s recent call for local government elections to be held in the capital city.

Fahmi, who is the spokesman for the unity government, said he discussed the matter with the federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa this morning. He added that she should be given more time to consider the proposal since she had just been appointed to the post.

“This is a major policy decision that is not to be taken lightly and I believe that we have an internal process. So, we need to assess and view the entire matter together,” he told reporters after launching an event here.

On a separate note, Fahmi said the buildings commissioner had notified him that, in 2018, 95% some 6,000 strata properties throughout KL did not conduct their annual general meetings (AGMs).

“About 95% to 97% failed to submit their audited financial accounts for 2018. This is a very serious issue that we face. This does not only have to do with local government elections but hyper-local elections,” he said.

Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai called for Putrajaya to start local government elections in the capital city first to bolster democracy.

The Cheras MP said reintroducing local elections in the city would provide sustainability and give the residents the right to select their city council representatives.

Local elections in Malaysia were suspended in the 1960s and later replaced by a system of appointed heads, with mayors of city councils as well as presidents of municipal and district councils being appointed by the state governments.

Tan’s statement drew a sharp response from Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who said the proposal was insensitive and provocative.

He said with Bumiputeras only making up 45.9% of residents in Kuala Lumpur, local elections would lead to an “imbalance” with more non-Bumiputera representation at the local government level.

The Melaka executive councillor also criticised DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang for his remarks on whether a non-Malay could become prime minister one day.

Fahmi said the unity government remains “very united” while it celebrates differences in views and opinions.

“At the same time, our (party) leaders, particularly those (I) named earlier, should be mature enough to understand that the government we have today does not comprise a single party or coalition, but several coalitions forming the government together, following the King’s decree.

“Therefore, we need to have a process and I believe we will discuss it later,” he said. - FMT