The lost third ballot
Penang and Selangor state governments called for the local government elections to be restored during the 2nd anniversary of the political tsunami. It should be something good but the central government has flatly rejected the suggestion due to various considerations.
By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily
Other than you family, local governments should be having the closest relationship with you. The garbage, ditches, roads, street lamps and grass in front of your home are all under the management of the local government. It will be the local government’s fault if there is a killing trap on the road. Even so, it is ridiculous that we pay taxes but enjoy no right to replace the local government.
Local government elections were abolished following the declaration of the state of emergency during the confrontation with Indonesia in 1965. Malaysians have lost the third ballot since then. The people have no right to question the appointment of local governments by the state governments. It all depends on the people’s luck whether the local governments carry out their duties well.
It is very unreasonable to tie local governments with the general elections or state elections. Maybe the central government does its job well but not the local governments. You can’t deny a capable central government just because of an incapable local government, thus, you can only tolerate the local government’s incompetence. Therefore, the central elections, state elections and local government elections should be clearly separated, so that voters can exercise their rights.
Penang and Selangor state governments called for the local government elections to be restored during the 2nd anniversary of the political tsunami. It should be something good but the central government has flatly rejected the suggestion due to various considerations.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz believed that if the local government elections are restored, together with the state government’s limits of authority, it may end up as a “three-headed carriage” that brings difficulties to the management. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that reviving local government elections will only give rise to politicking and not serve the purpose of improving service to the people.
How could there be a “three-headed carriage? It is indeed inexplicable. There are local government elections in other democratic countries and their experiences have proved that the central, state and local governments can be separated while they are working together. Layers of oversight mechanisms can stop local governments from making mistakes, so that they are more accountable and transparent, achieving the goal of checks and balances.
At the same time, through their votes, voters can replace district officers and city councillors with poor performances. Because they are afraid of being replaced, local government officers will be more responsible and work harder.
Currently, the lack of oversight and checks and balances have resulted in poor management and financial deficit, as well as corruption.
Many local governments have been spending large sums of money from time to time to carry out landscaping projects but these projects ended up as “white elephants projects”. It is simply a waste of public money. For example, the former Kuala Lumpur Mayor was alleged to have signed a RM32.4mil contract with a private company to supply flowers to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for three years. In other words, a total of RM900,000 would be spent each month to beautify the DBKL’s tower. Would the former Mayor do that if there was a local government election?
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation report revealed serious corruption in local governments. Officers of different districts collaborated and approved land applications, allowing many people to get rich overnight and some have even become big landowners.
I believe that it is only a small part of corruption in local governments. To curb corruption is the best reason to restore local government elections.
Reviving local government elections is in line with KPI, it is as well a necessary means to build a civil society.
