Bring back local government elections
TheAntDaily.com, 23/10/2014
In most democratic nations, the initial stage of democratisation at the local level often includes the people’s first experience and exposure with local government elections.
Elections at local government level is a good place to start developing electoral participation since local elections are the first element of democratic governance.
Local elections touch the daily lives of ordinary citizens. They also embody the people’s right to vote and elect local officials and this is a necessary element of democracy.
Ruling parties and political leaders usually attach greater importance and weight to state and national elections rather than local government elections. They have often argued that local government elections would not make much difference in the political life of the nation.
But this is far from true. In fact, local government elections have certain distinct elements compare with state and national elections, giving it considerable significance.
The results of local polls are often indicative of wider political trends and provide essential information about preferences, concerns and reactions of the people towards the sitting state or federal governments, the ruling parties and their policies.
Issues brought up in local elections are those affecting the daily lives of the people, their well-being and neighbourhood more in a direct manner. The competition between political parties, interest groups, NGOs and independent candidates or individuals and the local issues that arise during that period can be an important indication of what the people care deeply about and want the local government to address.
Local government elections will also enable minority groups or smaller political parties to seek inclusion in the nation’s political life. Those in smaller townships, villages or those representing smaller ethnic or religious groups can also have representatives in the decision-making process at the local level.
Apart from that, local governance can also serve as a training ground for leaders at the local level and those in smaller political parties. This will put them in good stead when they emerge later in the state and national political scene.
Local government posts that should be up for contest are the mayor, municipal president, district council president, city councillors, municipal councillors and district councillors.
For the election of mayor, municipal president and district council president, it can be direct or indirect. Direct means elected by the people while indirect indicates that these positions are elected by local councillors themselves after their elections by the people. Indirect elections are often seen as putting in place greater trust between the mayors, presidents and the local councillors. Direct election of the mayor or president by the people can put into office a politician who could have more adversarial approach towards the council.
For the election of city, municipal and district councillors, it can be held according to a majority, proportional or mixed system. Whether it should be based on majority or proportional, it depends on the size of each city, municipality or township as well as its population.
In Malaysia, the local government and its administrations have been shrouded in secrecy and lacking in transparency, where public scrutiny are almost impossible when it is in fact one of the key institutions handling public service and management of funds allocated by the state governments.
Centralisation of decision-making, functions and powers at the national and state levels have also greatly affected the jurisdiction and effectiveness of these local governments.
Local government elections were practised here in the past but abolished in the 1960s. Today, mayors, municipal presidents, district council presidents and local councillors are appointed by the respective state governments in accordance with the candidates’ affiliation to the ruling parties or coalition. Policy making and decisions undertaken by local governments are done without prior consultation with the people.
Today, we are experiencing a new democracy. The new generations are more informed politically and they are ready to question any administrative or any public service delivery system not performing up to their expectations.
There should be increased constitutional and legal recognition of local democracy together with political freedom to elect the local government and its councillors.
Once local government leaders are kept accountable to the people that voted them in, development plans and management of funds will be better monitored. This is what we call, people’s participation in policy and decision making. Local governments ought to adopt a consultative and inclusive approach in their policy and decision making.
Therefore, Sections 10 and 15 of the Local Government Act 1976 should be repealed to allow local government elections to take place. Return the third vote to Malaysians.
In most democratic nations, the initial stage of democratisation at the local level often includes the people’s first experience and exposure with local government elections.
Elections at local government level is a good place to start developing electoral participation since local elections are the first element of democratic governance.
Local elections touch the daily lives of ordinary citizens. They also embody the people’s right to vote and elect local officials and this is a necessary element of democracy.
Ruling parties and political leaders usually attach greater importance and weight to state and national elections rather than local government elections. They have often argued that local government elections would not make much difference in the political life of the nation.
But this is far from true. In fact, local government elections have certain distinct elements compare with state and national elections, giving it considerable significance.
The results of local polls are often indicative of wider political trends and provide essential information about preferences, concerns and reactions of the people towards the sitting state or federal governments, the ruling parties and their policies.
Issues brought up in local elections are those affecting the daily lives of the people, their well-being and neighbourhood more in a direct manner. The competition between political parties, interest groups, NGOs and independent candidates or individuals and the local issues that arise during that period can be an important indication of what the people care deeply about and want the local government to address.
Local government elections will also enable minority groups or smaller political parties to seek inclusion in the nation’s political life. Those in smaller townships, villages or those representing smaller ethnic or religious groups can also have representatives in the decision-making process at the local level.
Apart from that, local governance can also serve as a training ground for leaders at the local level and those in smaller political parties. This will put them in good stead when they emerge later in the state and national political scene.
Local government posts that should be up for contest are the mayor, municipal president, district council president, city councillors, municipal councillors and district councillors.
For the election of mayor, municipal president and district council president, it can be direct or indirect. Direct means elected by the people while indirect indicates that these positions are elected by local councillors themselves after their elections by the people. Indirect elections are often seen as putting in place greater trust between the mayors, presidents and the local councillors. Direct election of the mayor or president by the people can put into office a politician who could have more adversarial approach towards the council.
For the election of city, municipal and district councillors, it can be held according to a majority, proportional or mixed system. Whether it should be based on majority or proportional, it depends on the size of each city, municipality or township as well as its population.
In Malaysia, the local government and its administrations have been shrouded in secrecy and lacking in transparency, where public scrutiny are almost impossible when it is in fact one of the key institutions handling public service and management of funds allocated by the state governments.
Centralisation of decision-making, functions and powers at the national and state levels have also greatly affected the jurisdiction and effectiveness of these local governments.
Local government elections were practised here in the past but abolished in the 1960s. Today, mayors, municipal presidents, district council presidents and local councillors are appointed by the respective state governments in accordance with the candidates’ affiliation to the ruling parties or coalition. Policy making and decisions undertaken by local governments are done without prior consultation with the people.
Today, we are experiencing a new democracy. The new generations are more informed politically and they are ready to question any administrative or any public service delivery system not performing up to their expectations.
There should be increased constitutional and legal recognition of local democracy together with political freedom to elect the local government and its councillors.
Once local government leaders are kept accountable to the people that voted them in, development plans and management of funds will be better monitored. This is what we call, people’s participation in policy and decision making. Local governments ought to adopt a consultative and inclusive approach in their policy and decision making.
Therefore, Sections 10 and 15 of the Local Government Act 1976 should be repealed to allow local government elections to take place. Return the third vote to Malaysians.
