PROMISE 25

17 August 2019 – George Town, which was the first local authority to conduct local government elections in 1857, has been touted to be the place for the rebirth of municipal elections in the country. The state capital is among several local authorities shortlisted to hold the third tier polls once the proposal is approved by the cabinet. Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said Penang had expressed interest in carrying out the local election even when Pakatan Harapan was the opposition.

C4 – According to the Pakatan Harap Manifesto, local authorities (PBT = Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan) are the closest to the daily lives of citizens. Pakatan Harapan seems committed to reintroduce and enhance local democracy in Malaysia however the implementation of that commitment seems slow and being marginalised to the fringes of the administration’s agenda. In August 2019, Zuraida Kamaruddin, the Minister of Housing and Local Government mooted that the ministry will present the amendments related laws to the cabinet by the end of the year. She also added that Penang will most likely be the first state to hold local government election as the state has matured enough for the election to happen.

3 August 2019 – IT seems strange that Sarawak would see local council elections as an attempt by Putrajaya to take over local government administration in the state. In his speech, the Chief Minister said Sarawak’s right over its local government was enshrined in the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

31 July 2018 – Several laws also need to be amended, including reintroducing of the Local Government Election Act 1960, if local councillors are to be elected