Malaysia’s PM turns down
request for local elections

Kuala Lumpur, 12 March 2010: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak turned down requests to hold local government elections, saying they were unnecessary. “Reviving local government elections will only give rise to politicking and not serve the purpose of improving service to the people,” he told journalists. Critics of the prime minister argued that local elections would stop the abuse of power that is rampant in many local councils.

The prime minister added that the focus should be on improving local services to people and not the selection of local councillors. His comments followed a request by the Penang state government to have local elections in Malaysia restored. It’s Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng argued that according to the country’s constitution, the Elections Commission was permitted to hold local elections in addition to parliamentary ones.

Opposition politicians condemned the prime minister’s refusal to allow local elections as undemocratic and cowardly. One commentator wrote: “The prime minister has got it wrong. Local government elections will not cause too much politicking. On the contrary, they will put a stop to the excessive politicking and gross abuse of power that is rampant in many local/municipal councils. We have heard and seen many cases of council 'chieftains' and members wielding extraordinary power and amassing wealth and living lavishly. The people must be given their democratic rights to purge these local warlords, and the only way it can be done is through the proper process of holding elections for local government positions.”