THE government is committed to restoring local council elections, but will look into different methods of doing so in stages, and at various parts of the country, said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

She said her ministry is looking at amending the Local Government Act 1976 by the end of 2020, or early 2021.

“This will include a few other laws that will be tabled with it. If we get fast approval to amend the laws, then we will take it from there,” she said at a recent media briefing to mark Pakatan Harapan’s first year in power.

Local council elections had been criticised by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said it will only cause racial strife.

The last local council elections held in Malaysia was in 1965.

Zuraida said she had spoken to Dr Mahathir, and that he had approved of her suggestion to begin holding local council elections in three years’ time.

“Once the papers are ready, we will propose to Cabinet what is the best model to adopt,” she said.

“One of our recommendations will be to do it phase by phase, and not across the country at the same time.

“Maybe we start with City Hall and later have them in other states.

“We understand that the Petaling Jaya City Council is ready to do it because they have the financial allocation for it.”

Zuraida said the ministry needs time to perfect its local council election model and plans on having campaigns to create awareness among the people.

“This is, so that the people will know what are their roles if they want to become candidates.” – May 1, 2019