GABUNGAN Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) calls upon the state governments that support local elections, such as Selangor and Penang, to begin with village elections so as to demonstrate the benefits of local democracy to Malays.

Contrary to what many Malays believe, the absence of local elections is harming the interests of Malays who now make up the majority in not just the rural areas but in most cities and towns. Without an elected local government, ordinary Malays are paying the price of red tape, inefficiency, wastage and corruption.

GBM stresses, if rural folk especially Malays can reap the benefits of representation and accountability from an elected Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), urban Malays would clearly demand democracy for the local council to control greater power and resources.   

The idea that having the power to choose their local administrators will undermine Malays is absurd. Pro-democracy Malaysians should respond by making local democracy not just a “Malaysian cause” generally, but also a “Malay cause” specifically.

GBM sees Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed’s decision after the anti-ICERD rally to not have local elections for fear of ethnic conflicts as a call for more effective advocacy efforts.     

GBM cautions that anti-democracy forces will always use “ethnic conflicts” as a threat to stop political reform but persistent and targeted advocacy will defeat such fear-mongering efforts. The best and clearest example of successful fear-busting happened on May 9. Just seven months ago, many Malaysians were fearful that changing government would cause riots.

GBM commends Local Government and Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s commitment to continue studying local elections options, for the government’s consideration.

To allay fears that Malays would lose out in a greater democracy, Zuraida may propose to start with local elections in Malay-majority cities and towns such as Kota Baru, Kuala Terengganu and Pekan. – December 11, 2018.

* Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia is a coalition of 28 civil society organisations, established in 2011.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.