Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Penang politician pushes for timeline on local council elections
A Pakatan Harapan representative is calling on Penang's state government to fast-track efforts toward restoring local council elections by submitting a comprehensive policy memorandum to federal authorities. Gooi Hsiao Leung says the move is needed to outline necessary legal amendments required for the elections to proceed.
LSN Malaysia ·
Gooi Hsiao Leung, a PH assemblyman, has urged the Penang state government to accelerate the restoration of local council elections by formally presenting a policy memorandum to the federal government. The memorandum should detail the legal changes required to make the elections viable, he said.
Local council elections in Malaysia have been suspended since 1965, with elected representatives replaced by appointed officials. Penang, along with other states, has seen periodic calls for the reinstatement of these democratic mechanisms.
Gooi's call reflects growing pressure from within the ruling coalition to revive local government elections as a measure to enhance grassroots democracy and accountability. Restoring the electoral system would require amendments to federal legislation governing local government structures.
The state government has not yet announced a timeline for submitting such a memorandum or details on how it intends to pursue the matter with federal authorities. Political observers note that restoring local council elections remains a contentious issue, requiring coordination between multiple government levels and parliamentary approval.