KAJANG: There is no need for local council elections as it would only cause political frustration, said Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
He said he was confident the unity government would not approve the call for local council elections, which was suggested by Kuala Lumpur DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai.
"In my view, there is no need (for local council elections). As a Umno supreme council member, I do not want racism to escalate in our country," he said after visiting the Malaysian Highway Authority here today.
Ahmad, who is Deputy Works Minister, said this in response to Tan's statement on Sunday in which he urged for the reinstating of local elections in the federal capital.
Tan had said local elections would uphold democracy in the federal territories, provide sustainability and give the residents the right to select their city council representatives.
He had also described the elections as a "third vote", which allowed the 'no taxation without representation' principle to be upheld and to ensure an effective, clean, and people-centric governance, turning KL into a world-class city.
Meanwhile, Ahmad said the local council system was already made up of representatives from various ethnicities.
"State and Parliamentary elections are enough. Why do we need more elections?" he questioned.
Local government elections in Malaysia were suspended in the 1960s before being replaced by a system of appointing the head, namely the mayor and municipal council presidents, including council members.