Reinstate local government elections for democracy, says Yii

KUCHING (July 14): Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii calls for the reinstatement of the Sarawak local council’s elections that are not being bound to the federal government’s provisions.

This, he said, is crucial to promote 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 (Rose) at a hotel here on Saturday.

Yii asserted that both Sarawak and Sabah have special provisions and protections under the Malaysian law, in which both states can pass a law to allow local council elections.

As the local councils fall under the jurisdiction of the state government, he expressed his belief that the state is well-positioned to lead the country in restoring local council elections.

“We have shown the world that we can lead the way in many things; why not lead in democracy as well?” he said.

Dewan Negara Senator Robert Lau who shared similar views, explained that the electoral laws for the local councils were still under the federal’s list, and therefore, would still require Putrajaya’s intervention as the state did not have an independent election commission.

The current federal’s local government development minister (Nga Kor Ming), he said, had twice expressed disapproval over holding local government elections throughout Malaysia.

Adding on, he pointed out that this posed human resources inefficiency and therefore, suggested that local council elections should be held at the city council level rather than being done in 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, provide them the RM20,000 – that is a better way in administrating human resources. That can be done,” said Lau.