Media Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham in Ipoh on Friday, 19^th March 2010:

Deputy Education Minister, Dato Dr Wee Ka Siong was wrong to say that I was not in favour of Local Government Elections

Last Night, the Deputy Education Minister, Dato’ Dr Wee Ka Siong during the Editor’s Time Forum Special program televised on NTV 7 at 11.00pm last night (18/3/2010) quoted me as not in favour of Local Government Elections.

I would like to reiterate that I have all along advocate for local government elections. The Deputy Minister was wrong in quoting me as not favouring local government elections.

The Pakatan Rakyat Perak government during its 10 ½ months’ reign had not immediately implemented local government elections as there were differering views as to whether federal laws need to be amended before local government elections can be implemented.

As a government, we wanted to make sure that whatever we do is according to law as we uphold the rule of law. We were awaiting expert legal opinions on the matter when BN undemocratically seized power on 6/2/2009.

Now that he Penang State Government has written to the Election Commission, I hope this legal issue will be settled soon.

* Ngeh Koo Ham, DAP Perak Chairman; MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan