Penang restores local government elections
Two days before Pakatan Rakyat (PR) celebrates its second anniversary of its takeover of Penang, the state government announces it has moved to restore local council elections. The announcement came as one of the pledge made by the PR at the last general elections.
The two local councils expected to be involved in this electoral process are the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) which takes charge of the mainland municipality and the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) holds the island's municipality. Because of the increasing responsibilities and growing population in the Penang island, there are also proposals to break up the MPPP into several municipalities in order to enhance its effectiveness but so far, it has yet to get the nod from the housing and local government ministry.
In the letter addressed to Elections Commission (EC), Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the state was asking the commission to commence and conduct the local government elections under Article 113 (4) of the Federal Constitution.
The Article reads that federal and state laws can confer power to the EC to conduct any other elections apart from those in Schedule (1). Lim’s letter said the federal laws that allow the state government to be a competent authority include Local Government Elections Act 1960 and the Local Government Act 1976.
We really hope that EC will take this matter seriously and abide by the provisions under the Federal Constitution. This is a pure and good democratic process that EC need to uphold. If the EC says they cannot organize the local government elections to elect MPSP and MPPP councillors, then something is very wrong with the commission.
We also wish to congratulate the DAP-led Penang Pakatan Rakyat State Government for their tireless effort in reviving the local government elections for the benefit of the people. The ball is now in the EC's hand.
The two local councils expected to be involved in this electoral process are the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) which takes charge of the mainland municipality and the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) holds the island's municipality. Because of the increasing responsibilities and growing population in the Penang island, there are also proposals to break up the MPPP into several municipalities in order to enhance its effectiveness but so far, it has yet to get the nod from the housing and local government ministry.
In the letter addressed to Elections Commission (EC), Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the state was asking the commission to commence and conduct the local government elections under Article 113 (4) of the Federal Constitution.
The Article reads that federal and state laws can confer power to the EC to conduct any other elections apart from those in Schedule (1). Lim’s letter said the federal laws that allow the state government to be a competent authority include Local Government Elections Act 1960 and the Local Government Act 1976.
We really hope that EC will take this matter seriously and abide by the provisions under the Federal Constitution. This is a pure and good democratic process that EC need to uphold. If the EC says they cannot organize the local government elections to elect MPSP and MPPP councillors, then something is very wrong with the commission.
We also wish to congratulate the DAP-led Penang Pakatan Rakyat State Government for their tireless effort in reviving the local government elections for the benefit of the people. The ball is now in the EC's hand.
