Yip Ai Tsin (Malaysiakini)
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s statement today that it was unnecessary to hold local government elections has brought a howl of protest from inside and outside the BN coalition.
In an immediate reaction, Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said while he understands the premier’s concern that such elections would lead to too much ‘politicking’, the “advantages of local government elections outweigh its rejection”.
Tan also urged the federal government to assist the Pakatan states to hold the local government elections, including making amendments to the relevant laws to allow states that opt for local government elections to do so.