Local democracy 2.0 LIEW CHIN TONG

Outline 1.A few words about REFSA – The City Institute 2.Why this subject? 3.The Athi Nahappan Report 4.Redesigning the three-tier governing structure 5.More politics or less politics at local level 6.Beyond race

Why the subject?

Rahman Dahlan cleans toilet from 2016

The Athi Nahappan Report Titled “Report of the Royal Commission of Enquiry to Investigate into The Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia” Commenced work in 1965, presented its report in December 1968

The state of affairs in 1965 Number of local authorities Municipalities3 Town Councils37 Town Boards37 District Councils7 Local Councils289

“In all, there are 373 local authorities in the country. Of these, 40 are wholly urban, 44 are partly urban and partly rural; 289 are rural villages.” (pg 35) “Of the 4223 elected councilors and nominated members of the Councils and Board of local authorities throughout the West Malaysia….” (pg 79)

“The model report” “We decided that we should visit all the States and Districts in West Malaysia in ordern to gain on-the-spot information about the problems of local authorities…”(Pg 3) “Even political detainees who had expressed a desire to give evidence were welcomed to do so.” (Pg 4)

“As a rule, all those who were summoned appeared before us, except in the City of George Town and in Muar where, much to our regret, we were compelled to issue warrants of arrest to require the attendance of the representatives of the Socialist Front in both these places.” (Pg 4)

Redesigning the three-tier government Election was “indeed a radical reform during the height of the Emergency.” “It is important to note, however, the first elections in the country were held for the local authorities than for any other tiers of government.” (Pg 16)

Competing centres of power “Their activities range over the whole field of Municipal services – public health, public works, cultural activities, town planning, public housing, with the addition of public transport, water and electricity services in the case of Penang City Council and water supply in the case of Malacca Municipality.” (Pg 23)

“The City Council of George Town is almost twice as rich as the State Government of Penang” (Pg 34)

Total BudgetNumberLocal Authorities More than RM250 million Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Pulau Pinang4 More than RM200 millionKlang, Seberang Prai2 More than RM150 million Ipoh, Melaka, Selayang, Kajang, JB Tengah5 More than 100 million Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Ampang Jaya, Pasir Gudang, Selayang5

More politics or less? Did Athi Nahappan report recommend the abolishment of local elections? “[….] weighing both the processes in a dispassionate manner we cannot but take cognizance of the fact that the merits of the elective process with all its inherent and attendant weaknesses, outweigh those of nominative process.” The Royal Commissioners further remarked that “nomination is no real substitute for elective representation. If anything, nomination is an anachronism and a relic of colonialism. It is antithetic to democracy“. They added: “democracy with efficiency is always more desirable and better than efficiency without democracy“.

“Neither one-party rule nor the doctrine of unanimity is commendable or desirable in Malaysia” (pg 111)

More politics or less? “There is no politics in garbage collection”? NGO councilors, NGO mayors? Politician-mayor while waiting for election? “Ministerial system” at councils But we have to deal with a national malaise: the outsourcing of thinking to private interests and NGOs

Seoul Mayor

Beyond race “We are of the view that the present structures of local authorities are unsuitable. Most of them are too fragmented and small. They will have to be amalgamated on a wider and regional basis so that they can serve both rural and urban areas. If this is done local authorities will cover larger areas embracing within their folds rural and urban population. Such representation would generally be multi-racial and seldom will it be limited to one racial group.” (Pg 36)

“In a country like West Malaysia, a suitably restructured local government, identified with democracy, can serve not merely local interests but also reinforce and consolidate national unity, besides sustaining and preserving a democratic institution at the local level.” (pg 38)

The End