Sarawak should reinstate local polls to meet its unique needs

Sarawak government should hold local government elections before the state election in 2021 to win the hearts of the people and to show that it is sincere about meeting their needs and demands.

Sarawak can hold local elections as it has full autonomy in relation to local government matters under the Sarawak Local Authorities Ordinance 1996, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution.

In Sarawak, the first local government election to elect councillors was held in Kuching on Nov 4, 1956. Local government administration in Sarawak had once been praised by academician Dr Michael Leigh (professor and director of the Institute of East Asian Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak) as being a model for the nation.

It is believed that local government elections would improve efficiency in local government administration, but there are concerns that racial politics would be brought into the fold, and there could be racial differences in terms of the composition of local councils.

I share Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s concern in this matter. However, we could, in innovative ways, educate the people not to merely identify themselves with their own race.

Several instances of federal and state elections’ results had illustrated that our voters do not necessarily vote along racial lines. For example, voters looked beyond racial boundaries to vote for a new prosperous Malaysia economically and socially.

Local government elections are far more desirable than having political party appointees running our local councils.

The public would play a role in scrutinising the performance of their councillors.

Giving the administration of local governments back to the people could be a great medium to foster the principles and ideals of good governance, such as accountability, transparency, participation, rule of law and responsiveness.

It is even more necessary in Sarawak, given its enormous land mass with difficult access to rural areas. Rural communities desperately need more elected representatives to serve them.

The issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak is critical; it reflects weak governance and poor management of the previous administration. An elected local council would have raised with the authorities any issues under its purview.

Reinstating local elections will show that Sarawak is autonomous in many regards, as asserted by politicians in Sarawak. It would reinvigorate Sarawak’s democratisation process and transform the state.