There is both good and bad with local council elections, just like there is good and bad in everything, says former communications minister Salleh Said Keruak.

Nevertheless, Salleh believes that restoring local council elections will lead to more transparency.

"One good thing is the local councillors will no longer be appointed, but will be elected, which would translate to more democracy and transparency," he wrote in a posting on his blog today.

Salleh was responding to Housing And Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who pledged that the new Pakatan Harapan government will reintroduce local council elections within three years.

In his posting, he pointed out that not many Malaysians today realise that the country used to have local government elections, until they were suspended in 1964.

He also noted that many local councils do not have professionals as councillors, since the first criteria for their appointment is party loyalty.

"With local council elections, the rakyat and not the political parties get to choose the councillors to look after their interests.

"This may be bad for the party, but it will be good for the rakyat. The way forward is transparency and professionalism, and by electing councillors, this can be assured," he wrote.

Zuraida said yesterday that elections for city mayors and local council presidents can be heled as soon as the country's economy is stabilised.

She said the ministry would study the matter over the next six months, but estimated the elections could be held within three years.