KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has called for the government to reinstate the local elections in the capital city.
This comes after the recent cabinet reshuffle that saw the appointment of a minister in charge of federal territories.
Kuala Lumpur DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai said the reinstatement acts as an effort to strengthen democracy in the federal territories (FT).
He stressed that the party's consistent push to abolish the FT Ministry was to prevent political interference within the administration of the nation's capital.
"A year ago, under the unity government, this ministry was abolished and the portfolio placed under the prime minister's authority.
"We as FT DAP supported this move because it has merits.
"Today, the situation has changed where the same portfolio is now placed under the Prime Minister's Department," he said in a speech at the KL DAP annual convention held at the party's headquarters, here.
The Cheras member of parliament said reintroducing local elections in Kuala Lumpur would provide sustainability and give the residents the right to select their city council representatives.
"This is so that the third vote may be returned to the people, the principle of 'no taxation without representation' can be upheld and to ensure an effective, clean and people-centric governance to turn KL into a world-class city that we can all be proud of."
Such a step would ensure check-and-balance by elected local representatives in the city's planning, he added.
The ministry, established in 1979, was last led by Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim as minister before the dissolution of parliament on Oct 10 last year.
Under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Federal Territories Ministry was abolished on December 22, 2022, under the newly formed unity government.
Section 15 of the Local Government Act stipulates that there is no election for local authorities in Malaysia, a distinguishing trait from federal and state authorities.
Tan said as a party that strongly holds on to the struggle and idealism that will always prioritise the people's welfare and accountability, it needed to work towards realising the implementation of local democracies.
"We do not need to implement local elections nationwide, but we can start in KL which needs to democratise the capital's administration," he said, adding that such a step would ensure check-and-balance by elected local representatives in the city's planning."
Former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa was appointed as the new Federal Territories Minister.