IS PAKATAN RAKYAT SINCERE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS? OR WAS IT MERE RHETORIC?

I refer to the reported statement (in today’s News Strait Times) by Kedah Menteri Besar, Dato Seri Azizan Bin Razak that the PAS-led Kedah state government is not interested to hold local government elections. The same view was echoed by PAS Youth Chief, Nasrudin Hassan as reported in Harakah Daily, who said that local government elections are not suitable at this time.

The administration of PAS-led Kelantan had kept silence on this issue.

Previously, both Penang Chief Minister and Selangor Menteri Besar had confirmed their commitment to restore local government elections in their respective states.

There are even certain leaders in DAP who even suggested that there should be a national referendum on holding the local government elections. Some, like Lim Kit Siang even suggested that the cabinet should give the green light to amend laws to allow the local government elections.

However, with due respect to all Pakatan Rakyat leaders, it would be best if they could firstly clarify clearly, DOES PAKATAN RAKYAT REALLY WANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS? OR WAS IT MERE RHETORIC?

There is no point for Pakatan Rakyat to continue talking about local government elections if Pakatan Rakyat is not even sincere in implementing such local elections in ALL Pakatan Rakyat states.

A mere letter to the Election Commission by one of the Pakatan Rakyat states does not absolve Pakatan Rakyat from fulfilling its pledge to implement local government elections in ALL Pakatan Rakyat states.

In the last general election, the pledge by Pakatan Rakyat to hold local government elections was not only confined to Penang or Selangor.

With the recent announcement by the Kedah Menteri Besar, it is now even clearer that Pakatan Rakyat do not have the same policy for each and every state under their administration.

Malaysians must now be mindful as to the pledge by Pakatan Rakyat and should also ask which states would these pledge be applicable.