Selangor remains adamant in tabling legislation meant to revive local council elections, despite a similar law in Penang being declared invalid by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

“Selangor also plans to introduce the bill in the state legislative council when it is in session on July 12,” said Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung had told the parliament today that the recently passed enactment in Penang was “automatically invalidated” because it contradicts with the Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1976.

He added this section supersedes the Local Government Elections Act 1960, and also contains provisions to supersede any and all laws and/or state enactments that touch on the matter of local polls.

In addition, he continued, according to Article 75 of the federal constitution, any state law that conflicts with federal law is automatically annulled.

However Penang local government committee chairperson Chow Kon Yeow disagreed with the minister. In a statement, he said the federal government cannot arbitrarily declare Penang's Local Government Elections Enactment as null and void without taking the matter to court.

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