The Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), an informal grouping of 55 civil society organisations (CSOs), thanks the State Government of Selangor for the meeting with the Mentri Besar of Selangor (MB) on 16 April 2008.
The Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), an informal grouping of 55 civil society organisations (CSOs), thanks the State Government of Selangor for the meeting with the Mentri Besar of Selangor (MB) on 16 April 2008.
At this meeting, the MB agreed to the setting up of task forces comprising representatives from government agencies and CSOs. These task forces will work on key areas of concern e.g. freedom of information, women and the urban poor. The CGG is already pro-actively working towards the establishment of these task forces within the period of 3 months as advised by the MB.
The CGG notes the MB's keen interest to introduce the Freedom of Information Bill as proposed by CSOs and his positive response to the setting up of an independent Ombudsman¡¯s Office for Good Governance in Selangor. The CGG views this as a good start to the cooperation between the Selangor State Government and CSOs. Finally, CGG is also encouraged that the MB has agreed to regular meetings so that the dialogue between the Selangor State Government and CSOs can continue. The MB has agreed to meet with CGG again in three months time. In this regard, the Selangor State Government leads the way for all other state governments to follow.
The CGG is however disappointed with the Penang State Government which appointed to local authority councils over 36 politically-partisan members, whose qualifications as community leaders or distinguished achievers are unclear. Further, amongst the small contingent of 7 non-partisan representatives, the over-representation of commercial interests (5 members) vis-¨¤-vis non-commercial non-governmental organisations (2 members) is completely unacceptable. The Penang State Government¡¯s manner in appointing local councillors was undemocratic, lacked public consultation and was non-transparent.
We urge the State Governments of Selangor, Perak and Kedah not to follow the example set by the Penang State Government.
The CGG has outlined in its Memorandum dated 28 March 2008 the principles, criteria and processes of political appointment as an interim measure before local authority council elections can be conducted.
The CGG calls on the Selangor State Government to publicly announce its official policy, criteria and processes of selection and appointment of local councillors. During the dialogue held on 9 April 2008 with State Executive Committee members Ronnie Liu and Lee Kim Sin, we were informed that approximately 25%-30% of the seats in local authority councils will be allocated to CSO representatives. Such a private disclosure is in itself inadequate.
The CGG is further concerned with certain statements by some Pakatan Rakyat politicians that local authority council elections can only be held with the approval from the Federal Government. Notwithstanding any possible opposition from the Federal Government due to Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1976 that abolished local government elections, there is considered legal opinion that state governments nonetheless have the authority to exclude areas within their jurisdiction from the application of the Local Government Act 1976. This could be achieved by passing a state enactment to that effect, and gazetting the same. This would pave the way for local authority council elections to take place.
The CGG therefore calls upon the State Governments of Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan to proceed to launch their respective roadmaps for the bringing into effect of elections for local authority councils. The enabling conditions and structures should be in place by no later than 2010. In this way, local authority council elections may take place by 2011.
The Federal Government should not stand in the way of better, more effective and more accountable representative government at the local authority level. On the contrary, Barisan Nasional should also introduce local councils elections immediately in the seven states it control and the Federal Territory as a testimony that they mean business in fighting corruption and mismanagement in scandal ridden local councils.
29 April 2008
