LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS ANOTHER PAKATAN EMPTY PROMISE, UNLESS HELD IN ALL PR STATE BEFORE NEXT GE

I refer to the decision of Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government to hold local government elections by the end of this month to elect 3 village chiefs for Kampung Baru Sungai Jarom, Kampung Baru Pandamaran and Kampung Bagan in Pulau Ketam.

Prior to this, Pakatan Rakyat had refused or failed to implement local government elections for all their Pakatan Rakyat states, being Kedah, Penang, Kelantan and Selangor.

This is contrary to their election pledge made to Malaysian during the general election 2008, which was also reaffirmed last year during their Pakatan Rakyat Convention.

In the past 3 years, Pakatan Rakyat states had constantly given various excuses, including legality, for their refusal or failure to implement local government elections in their respective states. Last year, DAP led Penang state government had also commissioned a panel to study the legal aspect on holding local government elections in the state. But to date, they had not concluded whether they would hold local government elections or not.

Now, the decision of Selangor to hold local government elections for 3 villages clearly show that Pakatan Rakyat states are able to hold local government elections as the “power to appoint ultimately lies in their hands”. The issue is whether Pakatan Rakyat wants to fulfill their pledge to hold such election or not prior to exercising their power to appoint.

Pakatan Rakyat should be reminded that holding local government elections for 3 villages in Selangor does not absolve them from fulfilling their pledge to hold local government elections in all Pakatan Rakyat states.

It would be a mockery if Pakatan Rakyat only proceeds with local government elections for the 3 villages but refuse to implement it in other parts of Pakatan Rakyat states.

Pakatan Rakyat states must now disclose whether they intend to fulfill their pledge to hold local government elections for all Pakatan Rakyat states.

If Pakatan Rakyat fail to fulfill local government elections in all their states before the next general election, then it is fair for Malaysian to consider it as another Pakatan Rakyat empty promise.