Opinion 1: ‘Reviving local government elections will only give rise to politicking.’ Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Fact 1: On the contrary, it will pave the way to the breaking up the grossly influential patronage system, among others, that has been deeply embedded in the Malaysian political psyche.

This is good as it will ensure that all political parties and partnerships can compete on a level playing field. Imagine, if ever Malaysia faces Brazil in football, no one in their right mind would want Brazil’s goalpost to be much smaller than Malaysia’s goalpost, do you?

Opinion 2: ‘Focus should be on improving service for the people and not in the selection of local councillors.’ Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Fact 2: Sorry, it is not an ‘either/or’ proposition. Here is where Najib is sadly mistaken with all due respect. An increasing number of the rakyat want both improved service and local council elections, and the latter can promote the former if local councillors can be shipped out if they don’t shape up.

Moreover, the Pakatan Rakyat state governments such as Penang are taking the clear lead and are willing to even sacrifice this great ‘advantage’ they have in appointing their own people to local councils to further consolidate their political power.

But they chose not to and on the contrary are giving back the power to appoint and freedom to choose to the rakyat.

Opinion 3: ‘(If the local government elections are held) the campaigning and the elections themselves will instead become the focus of the candidates’ - Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Fact 3: Even without local government elections today, we are already seeing politicking by both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders. If there is campaigning during local government election, it will just be an extension of the political drama, certainly not just by Pakatan but also by BN leaders.

Najib has also erred because that the focus will not just be on the candidates (which is undoubtedly important, because character is important), but also on political, socio-economic, cultural, religious and bread-and-butter issues that affect the rakyat.

Fellow Malaysians, you decide between what are mere ‘opinions’ and concrete ‘facts’. Granted, the Election Commission will have to make a decision as to whether to allow local council election.

If it is in the negative based on its interpretation of law on the advice of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the next course of action for change is to send the issue to Parliament for debate, which may not see amendments to allow local council elections.

Then, the rakyat will need to wait patiently until the next general elections; that too if only Pakatan Rakyat can secure a famous upset victory.