KUALA LUMPUR: The government is still conducting studies on the feasibility of instituting local council elections in the country.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin told the Dewan Rakyat today that the elections would cost an estimated RM2 million per council and RM308 million overall; and the studies, precluding Cabinet's paper on the proposal targeted for mid-2021, are still underway.
"At this point, negotiations are still being held with all parties, and as such, the studies have yet to be finalised," she told the house while taking a question from Wong Hon Wai (DAP-Bukit Bendera).
Zuraida earlier said that a number of feasibility studies on local polls were conducted between 2018 and 2019.
She said the ministry's policy committee, consisting of government officers and relevant agencies, has so far identified the main aspects required to conduct the elections, and the financial implications of getting them off the ground.
It has also underlined the role of the federal and state governments, as well as local councils themselves, in running the polls.
She added that the operational committee, made up of NGOs and community leaders, will be tasked with preparing papers on the perceptions of the public towards local council elections.
They will also be tasked with carrying out awareness programmes so that the public understands its role if the elections are carried out.
"We will also be doing a pilot study on local councils and places that are ready to do this, especially in states like Selangor and Penang, that have endorsed the polls.
"We have also looked at elements in various models from overseas and will find the best one for Malaysia which fulfils all matters discussed in engagement sessions with our stakeholders."
Wong said he asked for the updates, including whether Zuraida faced legal obstacles in getting the plans off the ground, as he had gotten a similar answer when he asked her the question in 2018.
"We have to look at the financial implications and we need to study this in detail. I have not said this before. The cost is estimated to be RM2 million per local council and RM308 million for 154 local councils.
"These are things that need approval from Cabinet and have to be debated and approved in Cabinet," said Zuraida.
She also said laws need to be amended, including the Local Government Act 1976 and the Local Government Elections Act.
Datuk Mahfuz Omar (amanah-Pokok Sena) asked whether Zuraida has the support of ministers in Cabinet to initiate the plan, including current Pas MPs, as they have claimed that local elections would cause non-Muslims to dominate the polls.
"I was waiting for the question… no one from the Opposition bloc or the former government had dared to stand by me. This was despite the fact that it was in the manifesto of Pakatan Harapan.
"Now, with a thorough and holistic approach, I believe there is a chance," she said, after being asked by Hanipa whether Senior Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (Gombak) and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh) who were also previous cabinet ministers in the Pakatan Harapan regime had stood by her bid.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had in 2018 shot down the possibility of instituting local council elections, saying that it would create racial conflicts and widen the urban and rural gap.
He also said it was not part of the Pakatan Harapan agenda, though some MPs especially from DAP, had made it part of their personal pledge.
However, in January this year, 60 per cent of Malaysians polled by non-government organisation Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) said they want the third vote revived.
Local government elections were suspended following the Malaysia – Indonesia Confrontation in 1964.
The suspension was never lifted and was instead made permanent through the Local Government Act 1976. Under the Act, local government members are appointed by the respective state governments.