KL and local elections

Among the Pakatan Rakyat parties, I think DAP has been most vocal on the need for local elections. Before the addition of four states under PR control, Kelantan did not initiate local elections, probably because of the need for federal law amendments.

Kuala Lumpur, being a Federal territory, has 11 opposition MPs and one BN MP, yet it has a Mayor appointed by BN and it is under a Federal Minister.

Since the GE 2008, we have come across reports of harassment by enforcement units of DBKL which residents and businessmen perceived as punishment for having voted opposition! If suddenly the enforcement officers become ‘highly motivated’ and apply laws to the letter when before they ‘closed one or both eyes’, what do you think could be the reason? I will be the last to condone hawkers and food outlets encroaching on the pedestrian way and the road causing traffic jams, despite countless complaints. But please be fair when carrying out your duties.

Weeks ago, I got a distress call from a motor mechanic. He bought a corner terrace house which had been converted to commercial use after the previous owner had paid conversion fee of Rm78,000. He applied for permission to cover up the extra land to put his equipment for lifting cars and so on. He admitted that he left the payment of the required fee to a friend who did not pay.

On the day when the enforcement officers came, he described it ‘like a battlezone’ with vehicles like excavator, trailer, lorries transporting an estimated 70 personnel (which might be exaggerated) and started dismantling the structure. It seems they stopped after a local politician intervened.

I wished someone had recorded the action taken by DBKL officers. Without looking at the documents, I cannot be sure what was the offence, other than non-payment of required fees for putting up an approved structure. They were adamant that it was illegal and that it was supposed to be residential house. But one fact I am sure is that it had been converted and the required fees had been paid and without confirming the fact, they asked to see the original receipts! Even assuming the structure was illegal, the fact that it was within the compound must be a mitigating factor compared with extensions on rollers but permanently on the pavement or even out into the road which are common in KL. I can see the difference as between with or without protection of those in charge.

If the federal leaders think they can cow people into submission they will be grossly mistaken. The people would rather make sure the bullies are managed by new political masters. There is now only a thin line separating the two coalitions as to who should be in power.

KL is now having a Minister and a Mayor throwing their weights around in an anomalous situation where the opposition has 11 out of 12 MPs. Either the Minister is redundant or the Mayor should have been elected, or preferably both.

I came across an article in The Sun which is highly relevant to local elections, which I hope PR-controlled states would use as a guide when introducing it:

What makes good councillors?

WITH about 40 local authorities having or about to have new councillors as a result of the change of governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor, the selection of councillors has generated considerable attention. Unfortunately, the focus has been on representation while the more important issue -- qualities of good councillors -- has been largely ignored.

In Penang, for instance, the state government is being criticised for appointing only seven councillors from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) when it promised 10 and that out of the seven, five are from business interests.

The Perak state government declared that a third of the councillors would be non-political appointees, preferably "professionals, businessmen and academics".

In Selangor, an 8-8-8 formula has been bandied about, indicating that of the 24 councillors in each of the 12 local councils, there should be eight political appointees, eight representatives from NGOs and eight from among the professions.

While the new state leaders should be commended for looking beyond their parties in the appointment of councillors, the notion that NGOs must be represented in the councils to champion their special interests must be moderated. The hawkers have declared that they should be represented, so have the engineers. Soon, landscape architects, kacang-putih sellers and buskers would be fighting to be represented. There will be no end in accommodating representatives of interest groups.

Councillors should represent all residents, not interest groups.

There is also too much emphasis on appointing professionals. The Local Government Act does state that those "who have achieved distinction in any profession" be appointed as councillors; but it also mentions those in "commerce or industry, or are otherwise capable of representing the interests of their communities".

There are, of course, professionals who are or can be good councillors. While academic achievements are desirable, it is wrong to believe that professional qualifications are crucial factors.

Local council issues are not rocket science or brain surgeries. They are everyday needs: cleanliness, flowing drains, pleasant parks, safe streets, wet markets, convenient shopping centres and food arcades, walkways, parking bays and facilities for the physically handicapped and senior citizens.

As such, an important attribute of good councillors, besides a desire to serve the society, is an understanding of the needs, wants and frustrations of the rate-payers. They must have an approachable demeanour and be able to relate with people of diverse interests.

A good example is Tham Weng Fatt, a DAP appointee in the Penang Island Municipal Council. He has taken an interest in the workings of the council even when it was under the control of Barisan Nasional.

Local councillors are not required to propose technical solutions. These are the jobs of the professional officers or consultants. But they need to have the ability to understand proposals and relate them to the needs of the people. Although this does not require the intelligence of Einstein or PhD. degrees or professional qualifications, it demands basic education, at least an equivalent of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.

In this regard, they also need the skills to get their ideas and views accepted. When arguments fail, they must possess the wisdom to compromise and strike a "happy" balance of different needs in a society of diverse interests.

Good councillors must also have the time to attend three to five meetings a week. Then there are the social functions and visits to neglected areas. This does not include the time to read and understand pages of usually boring notes and proposals.

Unfortunately, time is something very precious to successful professionals and businessmen.

Despite their legislative role, there are very few occasions to pass new by-laws or development plans. On the contrary, councillors have been and will be confronted with appeals and pressures to help those who cannot or do not want to comply with municipal rules and regulations. Good councillors need to have the integrity to do what is right.

Sadly, the lack of integrity has led many councillors to interfere with the enforcement of development plans and by-laws. The high incidence of non-compliance with rules and regulations is the biggest factor for less than pleasant urban environment.

The benefits and "costs" of being councillors will have to wait. Meanwhile, it is useful to note that councillors get an allowance of between RM500 and RM1,000 per month. There is no pension or gratuity or local travelling expense. With so many wanting to be councillors, looks like volunteerism is very much alive in Malaysia.

Dr Goh Ban Lee is a retired academic interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: mail to:feedback@thesundaily.com.