Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was at the press conference, said he is ready to meet Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusoff to discuss local government elections in Penang.
He was responding to news reports which stated that the EC would announce its decision on the Penang government’s request next week.
“Before they do that, it is incumbent upon the EC, their obligation, to discuss with us so that they get our input. Any further clarification is best decided in a discussion with us,” said Lim (left).
“If they make any decision without our views, I do not think they will be able to do a thoroughly professional and independent job.”
Lim said he hopes the EC will prove its integrity and professionalism, as well as independence from BN, in arriving at a decision.
He dismissed premier Najib Abdul Razak’s reaction as irrelevant since local government elections are a constitutionally derived prerogative and within the authority of an independent EC to decide and conduct.
Asked about the additional cost of holding the ‘third vote’, Lim replied: “Instead of a double election, why don’t you hold a triple election – parliament, local and state – all at once? This would save costs.”
The restoration of local council polls, suspended in 1964, was a big-ticket item on the Pakatan election manifesto in 2008, but has yet to be delivered mainly because of legislative hurdles.
The Selangor government has also said it will explore the possibility of electing municipal councillors, who are currently appointed to these posts.
The Coalition for Good Governance has pointed out ways in which the EC can be bypassed if it proves uncooperative.