SELANGOR Umno and PAS will reject any attempt to hold local council elections, Tg Karang MP Noh Omar told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“I want to state here that Selangor PAS and Umno will reject any attempt at local council elections.

“Which manifesto was this (local council elections) in? Was it Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto?

“As such, I want the housing and local government minister to announce that the Perikatan Nasional government will cancel all plans to hold local council elections,” said the state Umno liaison chief during the motion of thanks for the royal address.

Zuraida Kamaruddin, who holds the housing and local government portfolio, yesterday told Parliament that Putrajaya is preparing studies on local council elections, which will be tabled to the cabinet.

Noh, who was housing and local government minister in the Barisan Nasional government, said ministers should take into account Umno and PAS’ opinions when making decisions.

“I was very upset and surprised yesterday, when Zuraida said the government is studying local council elections and that her ministry has formed two committees to look into the matter.

“Worse was when she said Selangor and Penang will be the first states to test local council elections.

“I urge our ministers to forget previous manifestos, whether from BN or PH.”

Zuraida was among a group of MPs who quit PKR in February to side with BN, PAS, Bersatu and Gabungan Parti Sarawak, which went on to form the PN administration.

She told the Dewan Rakyat that the government aims to hold local council elections next year.

Each election will cost RM2 million, totalling RM308 million for 154 local councils, she said, adding that cabinet approval and amendments to laws like the Local Government Act 1976 are needed.

Local government elections were suspended following the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation in 1964. This was made permanent through the Local Government Act, which stipulates that local government members are appointed by state administrations. – July 15, 2020.