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21 April 2009 | Socio-Political | Si Pin

 DBKL

Reading Citizen Nades article yesterday (theSUN, 20 April 2009) – “The Unfulfilled Promises” – brought back some memories of an encounter with Teresa Kok (MP for Seputeh) when both of us appeared as a panelist at the “Straight Talk Forum” organised by Digi Communications on the 23 March 2009. Together with us on the panel were Pramesh Chandran, CEO of Malaysiakini, Assoc Professor Dr Azmi Shahrom and moderator Ng U-En.

Among topics discussed were tracking the performance of the Federal Government, and also the performance of States under the administration of Pakatan Rakyat.

Somewhere down the panel discussion, I brought up the issue that in the 2008 General Election, both DAP and PKR listed the revival of Local Council Elections as a core promise of their GE Election Manifesto. And as rightly pointed out by Nades also in his article, chief among those whom have won on that ticket and on that promise has now reneged on their manifesto.

I posed that question to Teresa and looked forward to a definite answer.

She also commented on the fact that since taking over the Selangor State Government, she finds the unrepresentative nature of local councils an arrogant, high-handed, lackadaisical and unaccountable to the people.

Therefore I asked her if the change towards reinstating Local Council Election is first among all priorities that Khalid Ibrahim and her State Government is contemplating on? The answer I got was not very promising.

Both Pramesh and Azmi also kept reminding her to put aside political differences and get on with the work as promised. I chipped in by asking her, “If PR is not going to do it, do you expect BN to do it?” She smiled but I could sense a reluctance on her part to tell us the real reason.

Long an observer of Local Council performance, I have been dismayed with their lack of customer-focus since the first day I have to deal with them. Never the one to lift a finger to help, because they think that they have a job for life.

Now that Teresa and her colleagues are in the State Administration, it becomes self evident that:

1) The System does not want to change – Those whom have a job for life, especially those who are employed under the Local Council, does not like the boat to be rocked. Many high up in the ranks have got links internally that will keep the favours going; and the ‘oil’ lubricating the system. Therefore most of the deadwood are in fact ‘warlords’ within the system and does not like to be disturbed.

2) The Political Masters do not want to change – Political patronage is a very powerful weapon. Having the power to hire and sack is precisely what keeps the system going. And no political party or coalition is ready to give up that power if it at all helps them to further their survival.

It doesnt matter if all 24 Councillors within the Local Council you appoint are from the NGOs or non-political organisation. The fact that you have the power to appoint them (and hence sack them) makes it a Patronage System.

So if ever Local Council Elections are reinstated, would that change their Performance Ranking (according to the Housing and Local Government Ministry HLGM benchmark)? Could ‘efficiency’ and more important ‘a change of heart’ be injected into Local Councils.

Does that mean that if we allow Local Council Elections to take place, DBKL will have a chance to leap up to a Five Star Ranking instead of scoring a dissapointing 84.5 points on the scale (a mere 4 Star Ranking). Does that also mean that we can see a better results orientated Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) or MPSP over in Seberang Prai? MPPP did a dismal performance of 68.75 points on the HLGM scale and got a 21 placing over 98 other Local Councils. MPPP could have been on the forefront of Best Practise, but results tells otherwise.

As far as Teresa is concerned, she could only tell us that it is difficult to turn the huge boat around since the last Local Council Election was held in 1965 and nobody has ever seen it since. But Pramesh, Azmi and my contention is, if after one year as the State Adminstration, you are still wrestling with the notion of “difficulty”, then when is the State going to implement it?

The three of us wanted to hear plans and answers, but all we got was, “this one cannot … you have to think about all these problems … there’s so much hindrance within the administration … etc etc”

I’m sure there’s plenty to do to restructure the Local Councils before we can see the daylight of Local Council Elections. And there’s also the unravelling of the Local Government Act before any Local Council Elections can take place, but if there’s not even a hint that the PR State Government is seriously thinking about it, then I believe, there’s not much hope we can see the return of Local Council Election.

What do you think? Should the revival of Local Council Election be pursued relentlessly (as Nades hope that it should) or should we take a ”tidak apa lah” mentality – change or no change, who cares?

I say we change the system, allow for it and free up the MPs and ADUNs to do their jobs in the legislature.