KUALA LUMPUR: Holding elections for local councillors is not part of the unity government's plans at the moment, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the government wants to focus on seven other areas that prioritise the public’s well-being such as safer roads, cleaner drains and public toilets.
“Therefore, local council elections aren't the ministry’s priority,” he told Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru), who asked if there are plans to introduce local council elections in the country.
Local elections were suspended during the Emergency Proclamation in the Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation in the 1960s.
In 1976, the Local Government Act was passed and it abolished local government elections. Councillors were then appointed by state governments.
In a supplementary question here on Monday (Feb 27), Takiyuddin asked if the government planned to increase the number of local councillors.
Nga replied that there were no plans to appoint more councillors.
During the previous Pakatan Harapan administration from 2018-2020, then housing and local government minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin had said the nation could not afford to hold local elections.
