Local government elections must be held in Penang within 180 days from the day the enactment has been enforced.
GEORGE
TOWN: Penang Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the Local
Government Elections (Penang Island and Province Wellesley) Enactment
2012 here today.
Hence, barring any legal challenges from the Barisan Nasional federal
government or the Election Commission, local government elections must
be held in Penang within 180 days from the day the enactment has been
enforced.
State executive councillor in charge of local government and traffic
management affairs, Padang Kota assemblyman Chow Kon Yeow has said that
the state government would attempt to obtain a pre-emptive court
declaration that the enactment was not ultra vires the Federal
Constitution to compel the EC to conduct the local polls.
The bill was not opposed by the 11 Barisan Nasional opposition
members from Umno, who were all not present in the House when it was
passed. Neither were they in when the bill was up for debate in the
first, second and third readings.
With the legislation, the DAP-helmed Pakatan Rayat state government
has taken a giant step forward to restore third vote process as promised
during the last general election.
When talking about the bill to the press after the opening of the
party new state headquarters, Wisma DAP, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has
that DAP also stood for ‘delivery as promised.’
In his winding up debate on the enactment, Chow suggested for both
the island and mainland councils – MPPP and MPSP – to be restructured,
transformed and reformed to streamline the power dynamic between the
state and federal government.
“This would ensure the people benefitted whichever political alliance forms the federal or state government,” he told the House.
DAP’s Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik has suggested that the current
RM1,300 allowance for municipal councillors was not proportionate with
their heavy workload, responsibilities and high number of meetings.
To this, Chow said that the state government hoped to fix a better
rate to enable candidates elected to be full-time municipal councillors.
On a question by DAP’s Jawi assemblyman Tan Beng Huat on why
candidates needed to be locals, Chow explained that the state government
wanted municipal councillors who knew well about local area’s
“in-and-outs”
Chow
concurred with DAP’s Padang Lalang Tan Cheong Heng that the local
government elections should be held despite the possibility of Pakatan
not securing a 100 per cent victory.
“It’s our stand to respect the spirit of the elections despite not being guaranteed of win every time,” he said.
Progressive step
Meanwhile, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said the enactment was a progressive step to pave way for the return of third vote.
Meanwhile, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said the enactment was a progressive step to pave way for the return of third vote.
Its Penang branch coordinator Lee Hui Fei said the EC, which
previously turned down Penang’s request for local elections, can no
longer ignore and escape from its responsibility to administer
elections.
“The enactment removes questions on whether local elections can be
held legally and constitutionally,” she said in an e-statement.
Noting that the legal obstacles regarding a federal suspension since
1965 no longer applies for Penang, she stressed that the EC must respect
the state’s right to exempt its local councils from the anti-democratic
Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1976.
“Suaram hopes that the EC would accede to Penang’s request,” insisted Lee.
She said the Pakatan government should now intensify its commitment
in the democratisation of local governments and empowerment of local
communities.
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