The first pilot local election for three Chinese villages in Selangor is set to be held starting July 31, the first step by the Pakatan-ruled Selangor state government to revive local council elections which were suspended 46 years ago.

According to an exclusive report by Selangor Times Chinese edition published by the state government today, the three villages are Kampung Baru Sungai Jarom in Jenjarom, Kampung Bagan in Pulau Ketam and Kampung Baru Pandamaran.

The nomination days and polling days are July 24 and 31 for Kampung Baru Sungai Jarom, July 31 and Aug 7 for Kampung Bagan, and Aug 7 and 14 for Kampung Baru Pandamaran. Each village has a one-week long campaign period.

NONE State executive councillor in charge of new village development and illegal factory settlement Ean Yong Hian Wah ( right ) told Selangor Times that the state cabinet had approved the initiative and allocated RM60,000 for it.

Although the exercise is not legitimate under the current election law, the state government will follow the current Local Government Act and issue appointment letters to the winners for them to begin their two-year tenure.

Only those above 21 who have resided in the villages for at least two years with their MyKad bearing local address are eligible to contest by placing a deposit of RM500.

However they can only contest in their individual capacity instead of representing political parties, said  Ean Yong.

He announced that nomination time is between 9am and 10am while polling time is between 8am to 4pm. The results are expected to be out around 8pm on the same day.

These pilot elections will be held according to the general election model except that they will be conducted by local council officials.

“All three polls are directly handled by the state government because police and the Election Commission refused to cooperate. Therefore they will be conducted by local councils,” said the Sri Kembangan assemblyperson.

The elections will use the latest electoral roll updated until June 30, 2010.

Local government elections were suspended in 1965 by the then-Perikatan government at the height of the Confrontation with Indonesia.

After the Confrontation ended, civil society and the opposition have been calling on the federal government to restore it in order to ensure accountability and democracy of local governments.

This formed part of the opposition’s manifesto for the 2008 general election. The previous Perak state government under Pakatan was the first to restore it, electing all 817 Malay village chiefs in the state. However, they were later sacked after BN wrested back Perak.