Call for local govt elections gains momentum

GEORGE TOWN: The Seberang Prai ex-City Councilors Association (PBAM) has urged the newly-formed federal government to implement local government elections.
Its president Teoh Seang Hooi (pix) said it is important to give the mandate back to the people to choose who should be given a chance to serve them instead of the process of appointing candidates.
He said this should be carried out to ensure a smooth flow of the democratic process.
Teoh said he recalled that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who previously held the state Local Government exco portfolio, had also proposed for local government elections to be held.
He said with a new government at the helm in Putrajaya, there was no reason to delay the implementation of local government elections.
"We will also be writing to the relevant ministries on this matter.
"We hope the newly-appointed Minister for Housing and Local Government, Zuraida Kamaruddin, would propose to the federal government to hasten the implementation of local government elections," he told theSun.
Apart from PBAM, the call for local government elections to strengthen the role and power of local authorities has been gaining momentum.
Ipoh City Watch president Assoc Prof Dr Richard Ng had also called for amendments to the Local Government Act 1976 to revive local government elections.