Concerns on deviations in local gov’t elections
Coalition of Good GovernancePublished: Feb 27, 2014 8:14 AM | Updated: Feb 27, 2014 8:17 AM
The Coalition of Good Governance is a coalition of NGOs formed as an oversight group for greater transparency and good governance in local governments, state governments and the government of the federation.
The CGG believes that a fundamental right of every Malaysian is the right to the third vote in local governments. The CGG is therefore committed to the pursuit of the return of Local Council Elections (LCE).
The CGG wishes to register its deep concern with the recent development in the formation of local councils in the state of Selangor. This press statement today is targeting the citizens of Selangor in particular and all Malaysians in general, with the intent of sharing its concerns. It is also the intent of CGG to create awareness among the general public of their citizenship rights.
The following are our concerns:
A. Delay in appointments
The CGG is concerned that the tax-paying citizens of Selangor have been deprived of the right to representation due to the delay in the appointment of local councilors. As of yesterday not all councillors have been appointed and we are already in week seven of 2014, which means that we have been deprived of that right to full representation and a functioning local government for seven weeks.
B. Not abiding to councillors as representatives of citizens
The CGG is concerned that instead of embracing the spirit and principle of ‘councillors as representatives of citizens’, the government of the day has compromised the principle to become ‘councilors as representatives of political masters’.
C. Not demonstrating competency, accountability and transparency
The CGC is concerned that the appointment of councilors has been carried out in a non-transparent and non-participative manner. This is against the spirit and commitment to greater transparency. The qualifications, credibility and integrity of the councillors are not subject to public scrutiny, thus undermining the very office of the councilor and the promise for greater competency, accountability and transparency.
D. Political Interference and horse trading
The CGG is concerned about the perception of intense horse trading and the lobbying by politicians in pushing their nominees for councillor’s positions. This has damaged the credibility and authority of the councillors in the eyes of the general public.
E. Dilution of NGO’s representation
The CGG is concerned that the representation of NGOs in the present crop of councillors is being diluted. In 2008, 25 percent of all councilors were NGO representatives. The perception among the public is that the vocal councillors who fought for the cause of the public they represented are being dismissed while less capable councilors are retained.
Many of the NGO councilors that are appointed are through politically linked NGO organisations and their work and track record is unverified.
F. Lack of commitment to the Third Vote
The CGG believes that this delay in appointments affects the running and functioning of the local governments and thus the need of having local government elections is more urgent, in order not to repeat this unfortunate chapter. We urge the government of the day and the coalition they represent, to return the Third Vote to citizens through the return of local government election as promised in 2008.
The CGG in its commitment to pursue local government elections has drawn up the following initiatives
A. Engaging the resident associations and NGOs in the state of Selangor to create awareness of their citizenship right to the a Third Vote and the relevant acts through forums and the social media
B. To organise public forums with the presence of political leaders to evaluate their commitment towards local council election.
The CGG wishes to announce that the first of such forums shall be held in in Kajang on March 12, 2014. The forum shall be aptly named the Kajang Forum. The CGG shall invite all candidates for the election in Kajang to be the key forum speakers. This will be followed by another forum in Petaling Jaya, on a date to be announced.
Finally, the CGG urges the citizens of Selangor to voice their concern and press for their right to representation via local council elections to their elected state legislative assembly members and Members of Parliament.
The CGG believes that a fundamental right of every Malaysian is the right to the third vote in local governments. The CGG is therefore committed to the pursuit of the return of Local Council Elections (LCE).
The CGG wishes to register its deep concern with the recent development in the formation of local councils in the state of Selangor. This press statement today is targeting the citizens of Selangor in particular and all Malaysians in general, with the intent of sharing its concerns. It is also the intent of CGG to create awareness among the general public of their citizenship rights.
The following are our concerns:
A. Delay in appointments
The CGG is concerned that the tax-paying citizens of Selangor have been deprived of the right to representation due to the delay in the appointment of local councilors. As of yesterday not all councillors have been appointed and we are already in week seven of 2014, which means that we have been deprived of that right to full representation and a functioning local government for seven weeks.
B. Not abiding to councillors as representatives of citizens
The CGG is concerned that instead of embracing the spirit and principle of ‘councillors as representatives of citizens’, the government of the day has compromised the principle to become ‘councilors as representatives of political masters’.
C. Not demonstrating competency, accountability and transparency
The CGC is concerned that the appointment of councilors has been carried out in a non-transparent and non-participative manner. This is against the spirit and commitment to greater transparency. The qualifications, credibility and integrity of the councillors are not subject to public scrutiny, thus undermining the very office of the councilor and the promise for greater competency, accountability and transparency.
D. Political Interference and horse trading
The CGG is concerned about the perception of intense horse trading and the lobbying by politicians in pushing their nominees for councillor’s positions. This has damaged the credibility and authority of the councillors in the eyes of the general public.
E. Dilution of NGO’s representation
The CGG is concerned that the representation of NGOs in the present crop of councillors is being diluted. In 2008, 25 percent of all councilors were NGO representatives. The perception among the public is that the vocal councillors who fought for the cause of the public they represented are being dismissed while less capable councilors are retained.
Many of the NGO councilors that are appointed are through politically linked NGO organisations and their work and track record is unverified.
F. Lack of commitment to the Third Vote
The CGG believes that this delay in appointments affects the running and functioning of the local governments and thus the need of having local government elections is more urgent, in order not to repeat this unfortunate chapter. We urge the government of the day and the coalition they represent, to return the Third Vote to citizens through the return of local government election as promised in 2008.
The CGG in its commitment to pursue local government elections has drawn up the following initiatives
A. Engaging the resident associations and NGOs in the state of Selangor to create awareness of their citizenship right to the a Third Vote and the relevant acts through forums and the social media
B. To organise public forums with the presence of political leaders to evaluate their commitment towards local council election.
The CGG wishes to announce that the first of such forums shall be held in in Kajang on March 12, 2014. The forum shall be aptly named the Kajang Forum. The CGG shall invite all candidates for the election in Kajang to be the key forum speakers. This will be followed by another forum in Petaling Jaya, on a date to be announced.
Finally, the CGG urges the citizens of Selangor to voice their concern and press for their right to representation via local council elections to their elected state legislative assembly members and Members of Parliament.
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