More back call to have local govt polls (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya parliamentarian Maria Chin Abdullah and Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran fully support the proposal of having elections for local government posts.
Maria explained that having such elections would help bring back the third level of votes that have been taken away since the 1960s.
"They (former government) decided to do away with the local government elections because they were afraid the Opposition will take over.
"However, now that Pakatan Harapan (PH) has federal power, let's do it as a fair game and get the 'third vote' back into action," Maria said on the sidelines of a Mother's Day gift handout and voters' appreciation event at PJ Old Town market today.
The first term parliamentarian added that the local government election should not be limited to mayors and for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, instead it should be done right down to local councillors as well as the entire Federal Territories.
"This way, we will be able to bring in the right person for the job instead of by appointment."
Rishyakaran, who is the second term Bukit Gasing assemblyman, said on a personal level he had always supported the idea of having local government elections.
"I believe that it is the best way for us to choose the mayor right down to the councillors," he said.
In IPOH, Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said with the change in government at the federal level, PH now has the opportunity to amend the Local Government Act 1976 to revive local government elections.
"The opposition parties had been campaigning since the 12th General Election to restore the elections. They even tried in Penang and Selangor previously but it was rejected by the previous federal government.
"Having local government elections will give the people the third voice to help improve and provide the services rendered to rate payers," he told theSun today.
Ang said the people have chosen the PH government and there should be no delay in pushing for local government elections.
"Elected representatives are more accountable and more efficient than an appointed official.
"They should be non-political partisan. It must be based on 'no taxation without representation'," he added.
Ng was commenting on the statement by DAP MP for Kepong Lim Lip Eng who called for local government elections and election of mayors as practised in developed countries.