BUKIT Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao-Leung has called for Penang to renew its push for local government elections, saying the state should not abandon its long-standing aspiration to restore local democracy.
He proposed that the state government submit a policy memorandum to the Federal government to reopen discussions on the matter, while improving the accountability of appointed councillors in the meantime
Debating the Penang Budget 2027 at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today, Gooi (PH-Bukit Tengah) said the state had pursued several avenues to reinstate local government elections since the change of government in 2008, but had yet to achieve its goal.
He said Penang had held local government elections before independence, but the practice was suspended nationwide in 1965.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry subsequently recommended reinstating elected local governments, but the proposal was not implemented. Instead, the Local Government Act 1976 was passed, entrenching the system of appointing councillors that remains in use today.
Gooi highlighted Penang’s efforts to revive local government elections, including a 2009 appeal to the Federal government, an application to the Election Commission in 2010 and the passing of the Penang and Seberang Perai Local Government Elections Bill in 2012.
However, the Federal Court ruled in 2014 that Penang could not unilaterally reinstate local government elections in a manner that contravened the federal legal framework.
He said the state should continue pursuing the issue as part of its democratic legacy, rather than treating previous setbacks as the end of the matter.
Gooi also proposed improving the appointment system by introducing key performance indicators (KPIs) for councillors and clearly defining the geographical areas they represented.
Citing Germany’s Stuttgart region, which has a population of 2.8 million and comprises 179 local authorities, he said the region demonstrates how local representation can be strengthened through elections. He added that the mayors are elected.
He said local governments should be empowered to make decisions on matters affecting their respective communities, with clear rules and strong institutions to prevent overlapping powers.
Gooi raised the matter during the debate after discussing the importance of strengthening federal-state relations and preserving Penang’s democratic legacy.
He said the ultimate legacy for Penang should not merely be a more prosperous state, but one that is more democratic, accountable and resilient, and better prepared for future generations.
Story by K.H. Ong