A WORKING paper on local council elections will be presented to the cabinet by year-end, said Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad.

The deputy housing and local government minister said his ministry had conducted three series of workshops in 2018 and 2019 on the feasibility of local council elections.

“The ministry is in the midst of preparing the working paper to be presented to the cabinet. 

“On that note, local council elections will not be implemented in the near future, pending the approval of the cabinet,” he told the house during question time today.

Raja Kamarul said the Local Government Elections Act 1960 (Revised 1991) will have to be amended.

Changes will have to be made to Section 10 and 15 of the Local Government Act 1976.

Section 10 provides for the appointment of local councillors by the state government while Section 15 relates to provisions related to local government elections ceasing to have effect.

Additionally, acts and regulations under the Election Commission will also require amendments while new rules and regulations governing local council elections have to be drafted.  

Azalina Othman (Pengerang-BN) asked if the ministry will proceed with the move following a statement by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in December that  the government will not go ahead with the local council elections because it could spark racial conflict and widen the gap between the rural and urban areas. 

Raja Kamarul said the  ministry will present the findings of a study for the consideration of the cabinet through the working paper. 

The study has taken account the model implemented by other Commonwealth countries.

“We are also looking and studying the acts that have to be amended and changed.”

“We have also engaged with from stakeholders such as state secretaries, the Election Commission and the Attorney-General Chambers and other stakeholders.

He said further preparations will be taken after the approval of the cabinet

To a supplementary question by Hasan Baharom (Tampin-PH) on whether the revival of local council elections will disrupt racial ties, Raja Kamarul said the ministry will take on a inclusive approach whereby the views of various stakeholders including NGOs will be sought. 

Additionally, it will also study the pros and cons of the models adopted by India which is the largest democracy in the world and Australia which has a much smaller population.

This he said will allow the ministry to present a more detailed and comprehensive study for the cabinet to look into. – July 8, 2019.