Local council elections : GPC can be a solution

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We applaud the initiatives taken by both the Penang and Selangor state governments to reintroduce the local council elections in their respective states recently. This move is in line with the promise made by Pakatan Rakyat in the last general elections.

However, the stumbling blocks to this effort are the Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1976 which requires all local councillors and municipal presidents to be appointed and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who said that "the local council elections was abolished a long time ago, so there is no need to revive it as it would increase politicking".

What if the Penang and Selangor state governments decide to ignore the provisions in the Local Government Act 1976 and the Election Commission (EC) did not want to manage the local council elections? And both states then decide to organize and hold their local council elections anyway.

Will the Umno-led BN federal government invoke a state of emergency in these two states and suspend the executive powers of these two state governments in respond of the later to proceed with the local council elections? We would not know and it may or may not happen. Everyone will have to standby to face such consequences. So, you are with the local council elections or not?

However, because of all these blockades imposed by the provisions in the parliamentary act as well as the executive bench at the federal level, there are still a lots of alternatives to explore into. No rush to race towards the direct elections. One way or another, a certain alternative can be implemented and carried out.

Well, the Penang and Selangor state governments could move on to table a special enactment in their respective state legislative assemblies to establish the General People's Congress (GPC) as a step towards reaching for the local council elections.

The GPC shall be established in all municipalities and have all its members elected from amongst the communities and the grassroots. After the election is conducted and members of the GPC are elected, the GPC shall then convene its congress in proper in order to elect the local councillors from within the GPC.

Once these local councillors are being elected at the GPC level, the respective municipal councils will then based on these GPC election results issue the appointment letters to the local councillor candidates to officially take their oath of office.

We are all hoping for the best in order to make the local council elections work despite attempts by the Umno-led BN federal government to ensure the total failure of democracy at the local governance level.

Whatever it takes, we hope both the Penang and Selangor state governments will not give up and take up all possible alternatives and channels to make the local council elections a success.

Pakatan Rakyat, we are all behind you!

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