People's Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas today hit out at local governments nationwide for lacking in both transparency and accountability.

In his opening speech at the 2005 PPP annual general conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Kayveas said that councillors in local government functioned as a "rubber stamp".

The PPP leader said that these unelected councillors approved projects behind closed doors without consultation from representatives of citizen groups.

"One cannot continue to see local governments being run like a secret society... it is time we see actual transparency, debates, arguments, exchanges of ideas and intellectual planning at all local governments," he said.

According to Kayveas, local government meetings lack the vibrant debates found in Parliament and state assemblies, where motions are passed with some debates.

However, Kayveas, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, stopped short of demanding for the return of local council elections. But he conceded that should not be ruled out.

A better alternative?

"A better alternative could be to appoint more councilors from PPP so that we play the role of check and balance," said Kayveas, prompting a roar of applause from party delegates.

The government has banned local council election since 1965 and for the past four decades councillors are appointed by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to sit on local governments.

At a press conference later, Kayveas told reporters that all local governments in Malaysia are not up to standards.

"To be honest, there are 146 local governments in Malaysia. No one is up to any standards... They may be good in different things, but not good in everything," he said.

Kayveas added that of the top 10 local governments in the world, three were in Australia, "(but) we are no where near there".

More participation

In another development, Kayveas said that the PPP has not been sidelined in the Barisan Nasional coalition, which the Indian-dominated party is a member.

In his speech earlier, Kayveas told delegates that, "(The PPP) request that we be part of the government's decision-making process machinery."

Pressed for clarification later, Kayveas said that it was the responsibility of the party leaders to always request more participation in policy making.

Kayveas was returned unopposed as nominations ended last week. He is now serving his fourth term as PPP president.