Local council elections in Malaysia are debated after Cabinet reshuffle; concerns over ethnic representation and urban governance persist
PETALING JAYA: Talk on local council elections have resurfaced after the recent Cabinet reshuffle, heightened by Hannah Yeoh’s appointment as Federal Territories (FT) minister.
Being the first non-Malay to helm the Federal Territories portfolio, her appointment has prompted renewed speculation that local government elections, especially in Kuala Lumpur, could be revived although there has been no official proposal or announcement.
Political observers say the reaction reflects entrenched sensitivities surrounding urban governance, ethnic representation and the association of DAP with decentralisation reforms, rather than any concrete policy change.
Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said the renewed concerns are understandable, given Malaysia’s urban demographic landscape.
“The worry is that council members could end up being elected along ethnic lines,” he said, adding that suburban and urban areas have a majority Chinese population.
Azmi said broader political developments also shape public perception.
“Following DAP’s setback in the Sabah state election and the portfolios now held by Yeoh, Nga Kor Ming (Housing and Local Government minister) and Steven Sim (Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development minister), there is a perception that DAP may use local council elections to consolidate support among Chinese voters in Peninsular Malaysia.”
He pointed out that DAP’s influence in suburban and major urban areas is already largely saturated.
“Whatever efforts are made to promote support are unlikely to significantly alter existing voter patterns.”
Azmi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must address these anxieties, particularly among Malay voters across the political spectrum.
Sunway University political analyst Prof Dr Wong Chin Huat said fears over local council elections have long been exaggerated by outdated narratives.
“Local elections are a ‘bogeyman’ presented by Malay nationalists based on three ideas.”
He said one idea – that Malays do not constitute the majority in urban areas – is no longer true in most places.
“As an indicator, 75% of the 20 largest parliamentary constituencies have Malays as either the majority or plurality.”
Wong said another misconception is that Malaysia’s winner-takes-all electoral system would leave Malays completely unrepresented if they do not dominate.
“The fact is electoral systems can be designed to ensure inclusion and punish exclusion.”
Wong said a third factor is the lack of confidence in voters themselves.
“Some nationalists fear Malays would hurt themselves politically if given more opportunities to choose leaders,” he said, adding that opposition exists even in states like Kelantan and Terengganu, where non-Malays can never dominate.
Wong said electing local councillors would allow voters to “reap what they sow” – rewarding competent leaders and holding underperforming ones accountable.
“If you choose capable and honest politicians, you could see improvements in governance, facilities and even taxes.
“Why should we have to wait to change the prime minister just to influence our local city leadership? Surely, we should be able to change the mayor if we’re not satisfied with local management.”
Addressing concerns specific to Kuala Lumpur and Yeoh’s role, Wong said the issue should not be framed around whether the FT minister is Malay or non-Malay.
“The key question is whether the FT minister is a parliamentarian who can be electorally held accountable by voters.”
He added that political parties could always propose other ministers if they feel representation is an issue.
“After the Sheraton Move, DAP has walked back on its commitment to push for local elections, and the calls for Kuala Lumpur mayoral or council elections now come from Malay politicians such as Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and others.
“Whether Kuala Lumpur would have a state-level elected government depends on public opinion, not a single minister.
“The FT minister is not an autonomous governor who can do anything at whim. The issue with Yeoh is whether she is perceived as pro-development in urban renewal more than whether she would push for elections.”
Wong said there are no major legal or administrative barriers to introducing local council elections, either in Kuala Lumpur or at the state level.
“The Federal Court rejected in 2014 Penang’s demand for the Election Commission to conduct local elections. This can be changed if the federal government chooses to do so.”
He added that some states could even conduct mock elections, with councillors later appointed by the state government, as a way to test reform.
“The main obstacles are political,” Wong said, pointing to outdated ethnic discourse and partisan resistance, with both federal and state ruling parties benefitting from monopolising appointments.
Local council elections existed in Malaysia before 1965 but were suspended during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.
The Local Government Act of 1976 permanently abolished local government elections, replacing them with appointed councillors selected by state governments.
Since then, repeated calls to revive local council elections, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, have resurfaced periodically, often driven by concerns over accountability and urban governance.
Last August, seven Kuala Lumpur MPs proposed reviving local government elections to enhance representation and democratic participation in city governance.
The move followed a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report highlighting serious flaws in Kuala Lumpur’s land development system, including unchecked approvals, ignored public objections and the sale of public land below market value.
Former Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability minister and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi said residents deserve a stronger voice in the administration of Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
He also cited Pakatan Harapan’s 2022 election manifesto, which pledged to work toward representative democracy in the capital, saying that the PAC report should serve as a starting point for reforms.
The call was supported by six other MPs, namely Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), Lim Lip Eng (Kepong), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju) and Prabakaran Parameswaran (Batu).
Both experts agree that while local council elections remain legally feasible, there is currently no broad political consensus to pursue reform.
“The anxieties among voters, especially from Umno, Bersatu and PAS, need to be addressed carefully to reduce suspicion. The issue is about perception as much as policy,” said Azmi.
Wong concurred, saying: “Whether a council election occurs should depend on political will and public opinion, not the ethnicity of any individual minister.
“The FT minister is not an autonomous governor. She cannot unilaterally implement elections.”
They added that fears of an imminent introduction of local council elections are largely speculative but the debate highlights ongoing tensions between governance, representation and political perception in Malaysia’s urban centres.
