Avoid looking at local govt election from racial perspective

Avoid looking at local govt election from racial perspective

Faisal Abdul Aziz
[FAISAL ABDUL AZIZ is Bersih chairperson]

COMMENT | The issue of the local government election has always been racialised and made a sensitive topic.

Historically, the local government election has been linked with incidents of unrest related to the nation’s political stability, especially in the 1960s.

This eventually led to its suspension in 1965, and consequently its abolishment in 1976 as a result of the enactment of the Local Government Act 1976.

Concerns arise that there are urban areas with Chinese-dominated populations, leading to the suggestion that Malays would lose political power in cities or urban areas.

In my view, in today’s context, urban demographics have changed considerably since the 1960s when we inherited the concept of divide and rule that was left behind by British colonialists who deliberately let the Chinese settle down in the cities, the Malays in the villages, and the Indians in the rubber plantations.

According to the Population Census 2020, Malays make up 41.5 percent of the population in Kuala Lumpur, Chinese 36.2 percent, Indians 8.9 percent and other ethnicities 1.1 percent. The remaining 12.3 percent are non-citizens.

This data shows ethnic diversity in the population of Kuala Lumpur, with the Malays forming the most populous ethnic group.


Malay population growing

Looking forward, as the Malay population continues to grow, Malays are set to become more than 50 percent of the urban population.

With these statistics in mind, it is quite certain that whoever is interested in nominating a candidate for a local government election would be sure to consider prioritising a candidate who is Malay.

The increase in the frequency of urbanisation projects has also seen developments of a similar nature in newer urban areas that are populated primarily by the Malays. Classic examples of this include Shah Alam, Bangi and Putrajaya.

However, we cannot belittle the concerns that may be raised by other parties. To make the local government election a reality, we need to be considerate and open to hearing the voices of other parties and individuals.

Such an election needs to be re-implemented in stages through a pilot project so that the benefits of a local government are better shared with and experienced by the people.

However, at this stage, having the local government election is not the only solution because the issues surrounding the people within each locality are complex.

As an example, the people have the autonomy to resolve local issues through the Joint Management Body (JMB) for apartments which is different from the old system.


Ease lawmakers’ burden

Yet, the local government election is still beneficial because it empowers the people to voice out their concerns and hold relevant local authorities accountable.

The local government election also eases the burdens of MPs and assemblypersons who have been forced to deal with local problems and concerns that involve, for example, the littering of rubbish, clogged drains and so on.

As lawmakers, MPs and assemblypersons should be focused on their tasks of enacting laws and important national policies.

At the same time, the local government election is also beneficial to political parties that have strong roots, especially in suburban areas and towns, if the scope of such an election is broadened.

The Local Government Development Ministry website records as many as 149 local governments including Kuala Lumpur, which includes 12 city councils or city halls, 39 town councils and 98 district councils.

The local government election will help to spread political awareness among society within a locality.

Through the vote of the people, the elected representative of a local government becomes fully responsible towards the people in that locality.

This is because the people will assess the ability of the elected representative to exercise his/her responsibilities within the duration of the representative’s term before the following election.

As such, political parties who wish to expand their influence in the urban areas will focus their attention on managing local town or district council affairs to build their influence in preparation for competing in the next general elections.

This will motivate and incentivise politicians to work harder to serve the people.