The Malaysian Insight

FEDERAL Territories Minister Khalid Samad said the government was committed to bringing back local council elections for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), but did not commit to a timeframe to do so.

Khalid said the process of setting up local elections for DBKL could take years, adding that it was possible the council elections would not be in place in time for the next general election.

“We don’t have a crystal ball. Maybe it will take three or five years, or maybe it will be the agenda for the next elections. I don’t know,” Khalid said at a press conference at DBKL’s office today.

“But we are committed to the democratisation of the public. We want to look at it step by step,” he said.

The first step, he said, was determining the Kuala Lumpur MPs’ role in DBKL as to how far they can advise on DBKL matters.

He said the grassroots will notify the MPs on issues, which will then be advised to the DBKL advisory board.

“The second step is to revise the DBKL advisory board and decide whether the people in it are suitable to be there to help the MPs to fulfil their responsibilities,” he said.

Currently, there are 11 Kuala Lumpur MPs and 14 people in the DBKL advisory board.

“Lastly, we need to educate the people on the local council elections and its role so that they will not be taken advantage of,” he said.

Khalid said he still hoped that the concept of local council elections will be accepted in five years’ time, at least by the Kuala Lumpur people and DBKL.

“(This is) so it will not cause doubt, tensions, or misunderstanding among the people.

“It is not something that is immediate, that can be done in 100 days or three years.

“But I hope in five years, the concept of local representation and elected representation in local councils will be accepted widely without issues of race, fear, and so on,” he said.

He said nothing was set in stone, but DBKL was certainly heading towards local council elections in the future.

“We may introduce it in stages, electing maybe 12 out of 24 local councillors, and appointing another 12, but leaving the mayor to still be appointed.

“It will be up for discussions at any time.

“We are going in that direction, but the timeframe is flexible. The immediate action will be to make sure the elected representatives are given a place in DBKL to speak out.” – July 9, 2018.