DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has challenged the federal cabinet to facilitate the Penang government's request to hold local government elections.

In a statement today, Lim said when cabinet meets on Wednesday, it should provide the "green light" for laws to be amended to allow Penang to restore local government elections.

"The restoration of local government elections would be honouring the pledge given by Bapa Malaysia and first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman  to  Parliament on March 1, 1965 that 'as soon as' the Indonesian Confrontation had ended, local council elections would held."

On Friday, the Penang government said it had submitted a written request to the Election Commission for it to hold local government elections for the two municipal councils of Penang Island (MPPP) and Seberang Prai (MPSP).

Later today, Selangor government also expressed interest in doing the same for its nine local governments.

Lim lauded Penang's decision as historic, adding that it would be very significant to hold local elections now as the first was held half a century ago.

The veteran lawmaker notes that it would the first local election was held for the municipal council of George Town on Dec 1, 1951 which was the first elections of this kind in the country.

Meanwhile, Lim said the government should seriously consider restoring local government elections in line with its 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP).