Federal Territory DAP treasurer argues democratic principles should apply at local level amid criticism
PETALING JAYA: A DAP leader has defended proposals for mayoral elections in Kuala Lumpur, arguing that democratic principles should not be selectively applied only at national and state levels.
Ben Fong Kok Seng (pic), treasurer of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur DAP, issued a statement on February 7 addressing what he described as intense reactions to the mayoral election proposal, questioning why critics oppose democratic processes at the local government level.
“Democratic choice is the foundation of Malaysia’s political system. It should not suddenly be treated as dangerous or inappropriate simply because it is applied at the local level,” Fong said in a statement, today.
Fong highlighted what he characterised as hypocrisy among critics, noting that many opponents are themselves democratically elected Members of Parliament, state assembly representatives, or senior political party officials who derive their authority from electoral processes.
“They occupy these positions today because voters entrusted them to carry out their responsibilities. To challenge the legitimacy of democracy in local governance, while drawing authority from the same system at the national or state level and within their own parties, exposes a clear hypocrisy,” he argued.
The DAP leader emphasised that democracy should not be treated as a selective principle that loses value when exercised at grassroots levels, asserting that local democracy often carries the most significance as municipal decisions directly impact residents’ daily lives.
Fong pointed to a specific democratic deficit in Kuala Lumpur, where Federal Territory residents can elect Members of Parliament but lack state assembly representation. Consequently, the capital does not have locally elected executive leadership equivalent to a Menteri Besar or Chief Minister directly accountable to constituents.
“A mayoral election would offer Kuala Lumpur residents the closest opportunity to address this democratic gap,” Fong explained, describing it as a mechanism for transparency and accountability that allows voters to reward effective governance or hold underperforming officials accountable.
The treasurer addressed attempts to characterise mayoral election discussions as disrespectful to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Federal Constitution, dismissing such assertions as misleading.
“At this point, there is no policy decision and no implementation plan. What exists is a discussion around an idea, and a proposal to study its feasibility,” he clarified.
Fong emphasised DAP’s respect for constitutional institutions while arguing that such respect does not require suppressing discussion. He asserted that mature democracies accommodate examination and debate of ideas within constitutional frameworks.
He criticised what he described as attempts to manufacture outrage and provoke fear for political advantage rather than engaging constructively with the proposal.
“Outrage is being manufactured to provoke fear and score cheap political points. This approach does nothing to improve governance and only distracts from meaningful discussion,” Fong stated.
The DAP leader called for discussions about Kuala Lumpur’s governance future to be conducted with maturity and responsibility, arguing that mayoral election proposals deserve evaluation based on merit rather than emotional narratives.
“Kuala Lumpur is the nation’s capital and a global city. Debates about its future governance should be conducted with maturity, clarity, and responsibility,” he said.
Fong concluded by asserting that democracy should be strengthened rather than feared, particularly at local levels where accountability directly affects citizens.
The statement comes amid ongoing debates about local government reform in Malaysia, where mayors and local council members are currently appointed rather than elected, a system dating back to the suspension of local government elections in the 1960s.
