DAP wants local government elections revived
Posted by kasee
Saturday, 15 March 2008
T.K. Letchumy Tamboo
PETALING JAYA (March 14, 2008): The KL Federal Territory DAP will launch a signature campaign calling for the revival of local government elections in Malaysia.
"We will go down to the people and ask them whether they would like a referendum on this issue," said Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw in a press conference held in the party headquarters here today.
In the recently concluded 12th General Election, the Opposition swept all but one of the 11 parliamentary seats in Kuala Lumpur. The DAP won five, Party Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) four and PAS one.
Tan said: "In most developing countries, the mayors are elected by the people, not the ruling political parties. In China, they conduct village head elections. The mayor in our country should be elected too."
He also said to form the federal government, the opposition needs another 30 seats. "We don't have that, so can only lobby and push for local government elections."
"This will be one of the many important issues that affect the people that we, all five DAP MPs from KL, will raise in Parliament," he added.
Tan said the the DAP also called on the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Abd Hakim Borhan, to improve City Hall’s services and efficiency.
“This includes making the 10,000-strong City Hall staff to be friendlier to the public, irrespective of race," he said.
"City Hall's financial management must be improved so that the year's budget is used effectively. City Hall lacks currently transparency and efficiency.
"Last year, it started an International Road Circuit which was delayed. This is wastage of public funds,” said Tan.
He also said City Hall needed to improve Kuala Lumpur's security and that CCTVs should be installed without delay.
“The RM4 million allocation for CCTVs is not enough. We hope City Hall will review this financial problem. The police should also review the situation of employing security firms in the whole country,” he said.
"We have about five years to make Kuala Lumpur friendlier and to make it an 'International garden city of life'," said Tan.
The five DAP MPs in Kuala Lumpur, Tan (Kepong), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), Tan Kok Wai (Cheras) and Lim Lip Eng (Segambut,) and the other five Opposition MPs will arrange to meet the KL mayor.
"We want hm to take note of the issues and to improve City Hall's service performance," said Tan. - THE SUN
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1 comment:
Good if DAP is sincerely and willing to fight for the local government election. Th report made by late Athi Naggapen is self-explanatory and the rate payers would like to have the democratic participation in the local governance.
I am not sure whether DAP has a special body to study the local government election.
Penang was the first to have the local government election in its formative years and no one can deny the efficient governance; accountability and freedom (at that time there was freedom of expression);and the rights of public participation was not denied.
It is not point to have the signature as the ruling Barsion Government is not prepared to have the local government election merely because of losing more local areas.
Look at the policies which do not fit to the current situation and most of it need to be replace with new ones. Councilors appointed are not well versed with the policies and how can they master if they are in the state of penumbra.
If your are interested I can show policies in MPPP is outdated.
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