Zuraida: Revival of local polls to be discussed in Parliament next year

A Cabinet memorandum on the revival of local government elections is scheduled to be discussed in Parliament in June next year, following the preparation of a proposal paper by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

In a written response published on Parliament's website today, Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (photo) said a series of three workshops on the feasibility of the proposed elections had been conducted by the ministry in 2018 and 2019, to facilitate the ongoing preparation of the paper.

She also clarified that the elections would not be held until cabinet approval had been received in reference to the time period and cost involved.

Zuraida was responding to a question from Wong Chen (PH-Subang).

The workshops included discussions on proposed amendments to the Local Government Act 1976 with a proposal paper on the matter scheduled to be submitted for Parliament's approval in October 2020, the minister said.

She added that a pilot study on the proposed elections is expected in 2021, following approval by the cabinet and Parliament.

- Bernama