Can't Be Better than Secret Societies

Perhaps it is too flattering to describe our non-elected town councils as “secret societies”.

Secret societies are quite efficient in the tasks they undertake and the top bosses have proved themselves in their dog eat dog activities so that as mentioned in a recent BBC radio program, they also work out arrangements with the authorities so that a “win-win” situation exists.

At the height of the Confrontation with Indonesia in 1965, local elections were temporarily suspended but now 40 years later, we have not yet restored this most basic requirement of a democratic nation. Or perhaps that is a wrong description in that we cannot be considered a democracy but more an oligarchy.

If you google “UK local councils” you will get 5.88 million hits and this one
and many others show very clearly how a local council should operate so no need to fly for an expensive overseas study tour.

It is interesting to note that in October, eleven meetings are open to the public and two are private meetings.

Nothing very remarkable really. Just open invitations to the public to attend council meetings. Just imagine that!
Over here, even the press is barred and contracts are awarded on the dubious distinctions of contractors.

Local elections have a vital role to give back power to the people since the government after 48 years of independence is now grappling with the cancer of corruption that all invaded so many aspects of our lives. Just look at the various scandals clouding so many instruments of civil society.

Perhaps it is the only means to ensure the future and stability of Malaysia. We have a sufficiently large middle-class citizenry that should be able to see where we should be heading.