The call made to M Kayveas to report cases of corruption to the authorities is based on a misunderstanding of the statement and the law.

Kayveas was voicing the complaints he had received from the public so that the relevant authorities will do something to address the problem of corruption in local councils. He has no direct knowledge of the allegations of corruption and those making them are reluctant to report to the Anti-Corruption Agency for fear of being victimised, which is not without some basis. Thus, Kayveas is not required by law to report the alleged corrupt practices to the ACA or any relevant authority.

Kayveas must be congratulated for his courage in highlighting this issue in the public domain. What is needed now is for the government to treat corruption in local councils as a serious matter and take effective measures to curb it. Some believe that corrupt practices are much more prevalent in the local councils than the police force, involving not only council employees but also councillors, lawyers and architects.

Local councils play an important role in a democracy as their decisions impact many aspects of our lives. It is therefore important that civil society has a role in the decision making process and the implementation of public projects.Corruption is a symptom of the malaise gripping our local councils. Focusing on the issue of corruption alone without addressing the issue of governance will not cure the malaise.

What is needed is a reform of the structure, functions, legal framework and culture of our local councils so that they meet the current needs for transparency and accountability in public administration, as well as effective public participation. The public must have a right to relevant information so as to enable them to have effective oversight of the councils' activities.

We, therefore, call on the government to set up a royal commission to inquire into the state of our local councils and to make recommendations for their reform and modernisation. In the past, several royal commissions had been set up to investigate and report on important national matters. Regrettably, their reports have been gathering dust and the recommendations have not been implemented. Therefore, the proposed commission should be required to submit its report within one year and its recommendations implemented within six months.

The author is president of Consumers Association of Penang.