A new multi-racial NGO aimed at pressuring the authorities to hold local government elections for Kuala Lumpur was unveiled today, as public figures debate on whether local polls will cause racial strife.
 
The group, dubbed Bertindak, is a coalition of several established NGOs, such as Persatuan Anak-anak Melayu Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan, Badan Bertindak Kampung Railway Sentul and the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall, among others.
 
Coalition spokesperson Ishak Surin said rate payers in Kuala Lumpur must be allowed representation in the governing of the city and provide adequate check-and-balance.
 
He noted that Malaysia is behind regional neighbours in this regard, noting that even communist-ruled Ho Chi Minh city holds local government elections. 
 
"For 2015, the allocation for city hall is RM2.4 billion. That is a huge amount. It is the third largest in the country. Thus we must have a say on how this money is spent.
 
"This is the right of Kuala Lumpur's rate payers," he said.
 
Local government elections were suspended since 1965 following the events of Konfrontasi with Indonesia.

Meeting DBKL

 
Currently, the Selangor and Penang state governments are looking at ways of implementing local government elections but progress has been slow.
 
As for Kuala Lumpur City Hall, all members and the mayor are appointed by Putrajaya. 

BN has long claimed that have local government election would result in having a council that would not reflect the national racial composition, thus causing racial strife.

This line of argument was recently echoed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who said that DAP's agenda of restoring the third vote would result in another "May 13".

 
Ishak said that Bertindak's immediate plans are to submit demands to the Kuala Lumpur mayor's office on Feb 6.
 
"We will also hold mock local polls in 2016," he said.