All local councils, if not most, are located in urban areas. And most urban areas are populated by the Chinese. If elections were to be held, all local councils would be taken over by the urban Chinese.

The only exception would be in Terengganu and Kelantan and even these two states may see the majority of the councils being presided over by the Chinese. Najib and his Umno members know this and therefor are not supportive of local elections.

At the moment, most BN local councils are Umno appointees and the councillor positions have a lot of invisible perks. Council money in most cases is lavishly spent on wasteful projects which are a front to make some a fast buck.

Some even spend council money on overseas trips under the guise of ‘study tours’. In all local councils, most of the members and especially the president’s post are occupied by those from only one race.

The problem with appointing someone not familiar with urban needs will be the lack of understanding as to what to prioritise with regards to an urban environment’s demands. Cleanliness, efficient clearance of garbage, a clean drainage system, well-lit streets, availability of adequate parking lots in town centres and ensuring hygienic eateries are some of the mandatory duties of a local council.

Unfortunately, most present local council members are political appointees and they are not well versed in what they are supposed to do. They are only there for the perks. Thus we see a lot of inefficiency in local councils but removing these deadwood is not an easy task since it has to be a political decision.

The benefits of local council elections will ensure that people are appointed based on merit and their capabilities. Since they are elected,  if they don’t perform they will be most likely voted out in the next election.

Based on past experience, the people elected are mostly professionals who have lived in that area and who wish to contribute their expertise to the area where they live. Therefore, it is a good thing as they have a personal stake in the neighbourhood and wish to improve it.

So what is wrong if local councils are managed by the urban Chinese? They live in those areas and whatever decision they make will affect them. Therefore, let them manage their own urban areas.

Why should they be managed by political appointees who are not familiar with urban environments.