Goh Ban Lee
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/634258
THE last local government election was held in 1963. Malaysians below 60 have little or no memory of what local government election campaigns were all about.
Malaysians have been denied for too long their rights to decide who they want to run the local authorities. Despite the erosion of the responsibilities of local authorities over the past few years, they still play important roles in the everyday life of Malaysians.
As the laws governing the appointment of mayors or presidents and councillors and the workings of local authorities are made in Parliament and state assemblies, local government should be an important agenda in general election campaigns.
The Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat candidates must tell voters what they have in mind about the calls for local government elections and how they are going to ensure or facilitate better urban governance.
For example, if the Barisan Nasional leaders still believe that the appointed system is good for the people and country, they should present their arguments to the voters. They should justify the appointed system vis-à-vis the quality of service rendered by local authorities. Does the liveability of the towns and cities commensurate with the economic progress of the country?
The Pakatan Rakyat candidates should state clearly their stance on local government elections. While DAP, or at least the DAP-led Penang State Government, is clear on the question of elected local authorities, PAS has been rather shy in saying anything. Although Parti Keadilan Rakyat was for local government elections, it has been rather quiet on this issue for some time.
Besides local government elections, there is also the issue of urban governance. Irrespective of whether the local councils are appointed or elected, it is time to change urban management procedures to ensure that the decision-making processes in the councils are transparent.
Candidates in the general election should state clearly their stance on transparency. For example, they should tell the voters how the local authorities can be more transparent in the management of the municipalities.
What are their views on a suggestion that all council meetings, including committee meetings, be opened to the public?
As local councils do not deal with security issues there is no need to keep taxpayers and reporters away from meetings, especially the One Stop Centre meetings that approve applications to undertake land development. There is also no need to keep ratepayers from attending all meetings dealing with annual budgets.
Municipal budgets do not contain national secrets or items that may lead to civil unrest. There is no need for secrecy.
The need for transparency is even more critical in the three federal territories, namely Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. The ratepayers are in the dark how these municipalities decide on the budgets or the approvals of development projects.
In Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the mayor is the sole decision maker. It does not even have councillors, but only advisers, whose advice need not be followed.
Then there is the question of accountability. It is not possible to find out who is responsible for things done or not done. For example, the public is in the dark when no action is taken against those who break municipal laws.
Is it the negligence of the area inspector or the head of department or the secretary of the council or the president or mayor? Worse, is it the interference of state assemblymen or the state executive councillor in charge of the local government or the mentri besar or chief minister?
Generally, there are adequate municipal laws to make the towns and cities much more liveable. Unfortunately, acts of non-compliance are the main reasons why the towns are not much better places to work and bring up families.
A more accountable enforcement procedure will minimise interference in the working of the councils.
The candidates in the next general election owe it to the voters to state their stance on making the local authorities more effective.
Datuk Dr Goh Ban Lee is a senior research fellow in Penang Institute and interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
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