KUALA LUMPUR: The move to hold local council elections is part of institutional reform, Maria Chin Abdullah said yesterday.

“The right to elect local council leaders, councils and mayors, is about having representation where elected representatives are held to higher standard to deliver and act in the interests of the people,” the Petaling Jaya MP said in a statement.

“It may not guarantee good elected leaders but it allows for people to choose their councillors and mayor.

“Terming it as a western concept is to purely silence dissent and ignore the fundamental question of what is happening at the local levels where inefficiencies, lack of transparency and poor governance standards exist in some councils.”

Maria Chin said some have adopted the attitude that they are appointed and accountable only to their political masters.

“These in some instances have bred discrimination and strengthen patronage which may give rise to ‘little Napoleons’,” she said.

She said local elections would increase accountability and responsibilities for local council authorities.

“It accentuates the different roles of other elected representatives such as the MP and ADUNs and allow them to have more time to focus on state and federal laws and policies instead of having to fix drains and potholes,” she said.

“It is time we take a leaf from some of our Asian neighbours, such as Indonesia, which have been able to find a way to hold local council elections in an inclusive and democratic manner.

“There are many different elections models that we can use to run local council elections. I am sure that when the time comes, the government will select an election model that reflects the complexity and diversity of our nation as well as between urban and rural voters.”

Maria Chin urged PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to contribute constructively towards the government’s efforts to find the most suitable local election model that could benefit all Malaysians and end the institutionalisation of patronage and abuse of power.

“After all Malaysians, and I believe Hadi Awang too want responsible, non-corrupt cities and towns that are built on integrity, compassion for diversity and inclusivness,“ she added.