Local govt elections decision on Aug 14

GEORGE TOWN: The Federal Court is set to deliver a landmark decision on Aug 14 relating to local government elections in Penang, that have not been held in almost 50 years.
State local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the decision will be a watershed moment in efforts to bring back the third vote, last held in 1965.
Penang is seeking to declare invalid Section 15 of the Local Government Act (LGA) 1976 and thus render it inoperative in Penang.
The state is also seeking to declare the Local Government Elections (Penang Island and Province Wellesley) Enactment 2012 as valid and to then compel the Election Commission (EC) to conduct such elections.
The state takes the position that such elections are a state matter under the Ninth Schedule and Article 113(4) of the Federal Constitution and had filed the petition in April last year.
Local government elections were suspended in 1965 and abolished in 1976 after the LGA was passed.
Chow also said the application to upgrade the Penang Island Municipal Council to become a city council was awaiting Cabinet approval.
He said the application was made in 2010 and a Cabinet paper has been drawn up for presentation to the federal executive.
"I hope this matter can be resolved soon after the efforts of the past few years," he said, adding that the city council would be headed by a mayor if approval is granted.