MALAYSIA will hold local council elections starting from 2021, said Zuraida Kamaruddin.

The housing and local government minister said Putrajaya is doing early research to study the feasibility of the third vote being introduced in three years. 

“The local elections will be implemented in three-years which are on 2021,” Zuraida said in a written parliamentary reply. 

Umno’s Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim asked Zuraida on the status of the local elections and what studies were done prior by the government’s plan to implement it. 

Zuraida added her ministry has mooted a task force to study the laws, election process and financial feasibility of the local polls. 

The PKR Wanita Chief also said her ministry would engage all relevant stakeholders including the Elections Commission, Finance Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers before introducing local elections. 

Local government elections were suspended after the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1964. The suspension was never lifted and was instead made permanent under the Local Government Act.

Under the Act, local government councillors are appointed by the state government.

It is the practice that the appointees come from the ruling parties. – August 7, 2018.