Startling revelations at Penang Forum

 Accountability, Democracy, Development issues, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Marginalised groups, Poverty, Public transport, Workers' rights  35 Responses »
Mar 072010
 

Back from a rejuvenating day at Penang Forum 2, where 170 concerned individuals, including representatives from 35 Penang-based NGOs, grappled with the question, ‘Has anything changed after two years?’

The participants passed two resolutions: they supported the Penang state government’s call for the reinstatement of local government elections and called on the Election Commission to act, pronto. In the interim period, they called for the quota for reps of public interest NGOs to be increased to five each in the Penang Municipal Council and the Seberang Perai Municipa Council.

The second resolution called for the Local Plan for Penang Island (completed/revised in 2009) to be made public so the public can give their views. Never mind if it is a bit dated by now. (The plan covers the period from 2005 to 2020.)

During the forum, participants were fascinated to learn the following:

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 Posted by Anil Netto at 11.58pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Penang govt says ‘yes’ to local council elections

 Democracy, Malaysian elections  50 Responses »
Mar 062010
 

Congratulations to the Penang government for asking the Election Commission to hold local council elections in Penang!

It’s a long-awaited move, coming two days before the second anniversary of the Pakatan’s coming to power in Penang. It not only attempts to fulfil the Pakatan’s general election pledge but shows that the administration has listened to sentiment on the ground from civil society and public opinion that is strongly in favour of the restoration of local democracy.

It will also go a long way towards promoting greater accountability.

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 Posted by Anil Netto at 12.29pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Just change it?: Before and after GE12

 Democracy, M'sian politics  26 Responses »
Jan 062009
 

Blog reader LTH shares with us his thoughts about the Pakatan’s apparent lack of enthusiasm regarding local democracy. As recent events have shown, it isn’t impossible to restore local democracy – with or without the Election Commission’s or federal assistance or legal reforms. All that is needed to get the ball rolling is the political will and sincerety to fulfil campaign promises:

During GE12,

  • “We will return to the people local council elections!” was part of the PR manifesto;
  • And this is how they promised: “Just change it!”

After GE12,

  • “There are legal problems to untangle, you know; we can’t just change it!”
  • “We’ll need to move the whole SPR machinery over, will cost many millions, I tell you!”
  • “We tried in Parliament, you saw us, didn’t you?” (note: knowing full well it was an exercise in futility)

Haha, after 1 January 2009, the Gunung Rapat people have become such an embarrassment to PR:

 Posted by Anil Netto at 1.15am  Tagged with: , , ,
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