Political analyst says revival of local council elections faces major hurdles from Malay-based parties and lacks Cabinet support, despite DAP advocacy
PETALING JAYA: The revival of local council elections in Malaysia remains “mission impossible,” experts say, despite renewed discussion following the appointment of a new Federal Territories (FT) minister.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said attention turned to the issue after Hannah Yeoh (pic) was transferred from Youth and Sports minister to FT minister, making her the first non-Malay to hold the post.
Yeoh’s party, the DAP, has long advocated local council elections as part of broader decentralisation reforms.
“DAP has been championing local council elections since taking control of Penang in 2008,” Mazlan said.
“The issue was raised again during the formation of the Pakatan Harapan 1.0 government in 2018, and the party has remained consistent in its stance since then.”
However, he stressed that the appointment of DAP ministers does not guarantee policy implementation.
“Ministers do not have absolute power. Any proposal must first be deliberated at Cabinet and receive collective agreement before a Bill can be submitted for parliamentary approval.
“In this case, I do not think that will happen, as the proposal is likely to be rejected at the Cabinet stage,” he said.
Several political hurdles remain.
“Opposition from Malay-based parties is a major obstacle.
“PN, PAS and Bersatu are strongly against local government elections. Even non-Malay parties within PN, such as Gerakan, lack the influence to counter them,” Mazlan said.
He added that Umno is unlikely to support the proposal, while PKR and Amanah would probably refrain from endorsing it.
He also highlighted the political sensitivity of the issue.
“Historical political narratives influence how some segments of society view local government elections.
“There is a perception they could shift existing political dynamics, particularly given differences between urban and rural constituencies.
“Although this perception is not necessarily accurate, some groups may use it for political leverage.”
Despite the renewed discussion, Mazlan does not expect Yeoh to prioritise local government elections.
“She would be aware of the sensitivities surrounding the issue. Her position as FT minister does not automatically provide the space to champion it, given the broader political implications and potential opposition response,” he said.
As such, the proposal is likely to remain largely theoretical.
“In the current political climate, where no party holds a clear majority, few parties, particularly Malay-based ones, are interested in reopening discussions on local government elections.
“It is difficult to predict when, or if, this proposal will gain broad acceptance,” Mazlan added.
Local government elections were practised in Malaysia prior to 1965 but were suspended during the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation and later abolished, replaced by state-appointed councillors.
Calls to revive them, especially in Kuala Lumpur, have resurfaced periodically, driven by concerns over accountability, service delivery and urban governance.
