NGOs rue that only two reps named to councils
Susan LoonePublished: Jan 6, 2011 5:23 PM | Updated: Jan 6, 2011 5:28 PM
Human rights NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has expressed its disappointment that only two civil society candidates recommended for local councillors’ posts were appointed.
These were among the 10 candidates elected in a mock election organised by a group who call themselves Penang Forum 3, of which NGOs like Suaram and social reform movement Aliran, are members.
Penang Suaram says Penang Forum 3 had shown that mock elections can be done inexpensively.
Human rights NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has expressed its disappointment that only two civil society candidates recommended for local councillors’ posts were appointed.
These were among the 10 candidates elected in a mock election organised by a group who call themselves Penang Forum 3, of which NGOs like Suaram and social reform movement Aliran, are members.
Penang Suaram coordinator Ong Jing Cheng (right) said that the forum has demonstrated in no uncertain terms that mock elections can be done inexpensively, and the elected nominees appointed to the council so people can claim their third vote.
Ong said that the NGOs have several times recommended that the state hold elections before appointment of councillors.
He added that the NGOs were willing to assist the state in the matter, expressing their hope that the motivation to see the return of elections is shared.
Ong reiterated the need for the appointment process to be made transparent.
“Appointments should come with information justifying why a particular person was chosen,” he said.
“Re-appointments also mean good previous performance, and we hope that their successes can be better publicised and communicated to the general public,” he added.
“Greater transparency will do much to save a government from unfair and unnecessary accusations of mismanagement, abuse and corruption,” he stressed, calling on the state to make local elections a core resolution for 2011.
Ong was responding to the announcement of 48 councillors for the Penang and Seberang Perai municipal councils yesterday by state exco member for local government, traffic management and environment, Chow Kon Yeow (left).
The list saw 20 out of 24 political appointees for MPPP, and 21 out of 24 for MPSP.
Only two - Dr Lim Mah Hui (for MPPP) and Dr Tiun Ling Ta (MPSP) - out of 10 candidates elected at the Penang Forum 3 were selected.
The other councillors include Chinese Chamber of Commerce representatives - Sin Kok Siang (MPPP) and Lim Tau Hoong (MPSP).
Chow clarified that not more than two could be appointed to fulfil the NGO quota as there were “limited spaces”.
He added that he had discussed the matter with the NGOs and they had “accepted the explanation”.
Aliran refutes Chow’s explanation
Refuting this, Aliran representative Anil Netto said it was incorrect to say that the forum has accepted the explanation from the Penang state government.
“As far as I know the steering committee of the Penang Forum has not yet seen any explanation from the state government,” he told Malaysiakini.
“Have things really changed if we are still going to be content with party appointees?”
Anil, an active blogger and social activist, said the state might have spoken to a few members of the forum’s steering committee on why it cannot appoint more of the latter’s nominees to the councillors’ posts.
“But the Penang Forum steering committee as a group never saw any explanation, so how could they accept?” he asked.
These were among the 10 candidates elected in a mock election organised by a group who call themselves Penang Forum 3, of which NGOs like Suaram and social reform movement Aliran, are members.
Penang Suaram coordinator Ong Jing Cheng (right) said that the forum has demonstrated in no uncertain terms that mock elections can be done inexpensively, and the elected nominees appointed to the council so people can claim their third vote. Ong said that the NGOs have several times recommended that the state hold elections before appointment of councillors.
He added that the NGOs were willing to assist the state in the matter, expressing their hope that the motivation to see the return of elections is shared.
Ong reiterated the need for the appointment process to be made transparent.
“Appointments should come with information justifying why a particular person was chosen,” he said.
“Re-appointments also mean good previous performance, and we hope that their successes can be better publicised and communicated to the general public,” he added.
“Greater transparency will do much to save a government from unfair and unnecessary accusations of mismanagement, abuse and corruption,” he stressed, calling on the state to make local elections a core resolution for 2011.
Ong was responding to the announcement of 48 councillors for the Penang and Seberang Perai municipal councils yesterday by state exco member for local government, traffic management and environment, Chow Kon Yeow (left).The list saw 20 out of 24 political appointees for MPPP, and 21 out of 24 for MPSP.
Only two - Dr Lim Mah Hui (for MPPP) and Dr Tiun Ling Ta (MPSP) - out of 10 candidates elected at the Penang Forum 3 were selected.
The other councillors include Chinese Chamber of Commerce representatives - Sin Kok Siang (MPPP) and Lim Tau Hoong (MPSP).
Chow clarified that not more than two could be appointed to fulfil the NGO quota as there were “limited spaces”.
He added that he had discussed the matter with the NGOs and they had “accepted the explanation”.
Aliran refutes Chow’s explanation
Refuting this, Aliran representative Anil Netto said it was incorrect to say that the forum has accepted the explanation from the Penang state government.
“As far as I know the steering committee of the Penang Forum has not yet seen any explanation from the state government,” he told Malaysiakini.
“Have things really changed if we are still going to be content with party appointees?”
Anil, an active blogger and social activist, said the state might have spoken to a few members of the forum’s steering committee on why it cannot appoint more of the latter’s nominees to the councillors’ posts.
“But the Penang Forum steering committee as a group never saw any explanation, so how could they accept?” he asked.
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