Local govt election: Can be a KPI indicator for assemblymen - Analysts

SHAH ALAM - The local elections can be used as a key performance indicator (KPI) to show the performance of each representative in the country.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Distance Education Political Science Lecturer Dr Zaharul Abdullah said if it was re-introduced, it could indirectly improve the efficiency of the local government’s administration.

"I am also confident that we are able to manage the main issue linked to the PBT election, which is racism.

“If implemented in the 1960s, it is feared that it will be dominated by one race only due to the demographic factor in the city which is the high non-Malay population.

"However, this factor will give an advantage to certain parties, coupled with the issue of the cost of conducting the election, so it does not give an advantage or incentive to the government to implement it," he told Sinar on Sunday.

Zaharul also said that if the election was held in Kuala Lumpur, the existing coalition of political parties would not nominate a non-Malay candidate for mayor.

"Therefore, the issue or dominance of one race in the PBT will not arise," he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political analyst Professor Dr Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid believed that local authority elections could be a stepping stone for those who wanted to join politics.

He said this was due to those being selected would better understand the wishes of the grassroots effectively.

In addition, he said, it could also be an ideal platform for young people to learn before becoming elected representatives.

"Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur are ideal areas for testing this election before expanding to other cities.

"The local government election rules can also be adapted to the state of the country, thus being able to instil better democracy in addition to fostering that idea among the people," he said.

Previously, DAP has called for the government to reinstate the local elections in the capital city following the recent cabinet reshuffle that saw the appointment of a minister in charge of federal territories.

Kuala Lumpur DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai said the reinstatement acts as an effort to strengthen democracy in the federal territories (FT).