KUCHING – Sabah and Sarawak have the right to reinstate local elections without being bound by the federal government’s provisions, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
This, he said, is crucial to promoting democracy at the grassroots level.
“Democracy is not just at the upper level; it should include every level and this includes the local council,” said Yii at the #KitaAdaNombor delineation campaign forum organised by Rise of Social Efforts.
He said Sabah and Sarawak have special provisions and protections under Malaysian law, in which both states can pass a law to allow local elections.
As the local councils fall under the jurisdiction of the state government, he said Sarawak is well-positioned to lead the country in restoring local elections.
“We have shown the world that we can lead the way in many things; why not lead in democracy as well?”
Also present was Senator Robert Lau, who said the electoral laws for the local councils were still under the federal government’s list and would require Putrajaya’s intervention as the state did not have an independent election commission.
The current federal Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, he said, had twice expressed disapproval over holding local elections throughout Malaysia.
Lau suggested that local council elections should be held at the city council level rather than at all local councils.
“Every city council in Malaysia should have elections. Why? Because the responsibility of an MP is too big.
“You get an MP to go and check the drainage, pay him RM20,000 to do that? That is not right. Instead, get the elected local council to do that and provide them with RM20,000 – that is a better way of administering human resources. That can be done.” – July 14, 2024