Media Statement 

By Political Secretary to DAP National Chairman, Ean Yong Hian Wah
in Petaling Jaya
on 11 October 2002

The BN government should keep to its promise to restore the local government elections.

The federal government made a pledge to the nation in 1965 that it would resume the local government elections after the Indonesians Confrontation is ended. This promise was made by the nation’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman in the Parliament, on 1.3.1965 Tunku said:

“The very moment peace is declared I can assure this House that the elections will de held.’

The Indonesian Confrontation ended in the latter part of 1966, but up to this date, the local council elections are still not restored.

Today, whenever there is heavy rain in Klang Valley, a lot of places will be flooded.  There is lack of maintenance of road system in residential areas; no repair of clogged drains and out of ordered road lamps; exorbitant assessment rate; poor service by the City Hall officers etc. These and many other problems are the result of government-appointed local governments system and there is no way to make them be accountable to the public. 

The BN government had denied the people’s right to elect their local representative for 37 years!

The Prime Minister Dato Seri Mahathir Mohamad should restore the local government elections and realize the promise made by the BN government 37 years ago and restore the democratic right of the people to running their own local affairs before his scheduled retirement October next year.

Local government election is the basic democracy structure of democracy. The people are exposed directly to the workings of a democratic system, learn to run their own local affairs, and thus develop the life-style, habit and spirit of democracy which is essential if democracy is to strike deep and meaningful root in Malaysia.

The main issues in the Gaya by-election such as the oppressive car parking fees and the closure of Gaya streets are not of national concern as like corruption, police abuses of power and the 929 declaration that Malaysia is an Islamic state. This reflects the deterioration of development of the state of democracy in Sabah in particulary and Malaysia in general.