Local elections for village heads may once again be the norm in the Malaysian political landscape, after the practice was ended during the 1969 state of emergency, which saw democracy suspended and the country ruled by an unelected National Action Council.

But despite the semblance of normalcy and the appearance of democracy returning piecemeal and bit by bit, leftovers from the legacy of those dark times remain, such as the Emergency Ordinance and the marked absence of even local council elections.

NONE That is, until now. Local elections in Chinese villages in Selangor are to be implemented state-wide before June this year.

Revealing this to Malaysiakini at the state assembly building in Shah Alam today, Selangor executive councillor for new village development and illegal factory settlements Ean Yong Hian Wah ( right ) added: "We will inform you when this is ready."

Prior to the full-fledged implementation of local elections in Chinese villages state-wide, Ean Yong explained, a pilot run has been scheduled and this would be carried out in three villages on Sunday.

"These will be held in the villages in Pandamaran, Jenjarom and Pulau Ketam. They will run the election, which will be nothing different from the usual electoral practices," the state DAP leader said.

The latest electoral roll will be used for the elections, though the state has not decided whether voting in all three locations should be carried out at the same time.

Rules and regulations being finalised

"We have already come out with the draft rules and regulations, as well as the budget," Ean Yong said, but declined to reveal details pending their final approval.

He will visit the polling centres after the state assembly sitting to supervise the process.

The Election Commission and the police have already stated that they would not be involved in the election of village heads.

Calls to re-implement elections for local councillors and village heads surfaced in January this year, but its implementation has been blocked by the federal government, which cited legal obstacles and claimed that the relevant laws for this were either amended or made void after the 1969 emergency.

However, the Pakatan-ruled states of Penang and Selangor have pledged to go ahead with the move to return the grassroot vote to the people, letting them choose their own local leaders, just as they choose their leaders at the state and federal levels.