S’pore’s exit affected good governance

Kota Kinabalu: The suspension of local government elections in Malaysia after Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia has affected good governance in Sabah.

According to Danesh Prakesh Chacko of Sunway University, Sabah’s local government powers are more than that provided for in West Malaysian states. He was presenting his Jan 20 paper, “Local Government Elections: Time to Reintroduce them” at the Bersih 2.0 webinar on the ‘Reintroduction of Local Government Elections in Malaysia.’

The additional powers from the colonial era ordinance provide for the role of Sabah’s local government were to “build, equip and maintain schools, educational institutions and maintain scholarship, as well as licencing bicycles and vehicles not required to be licenced.”

Hence, there are opportune roles to use English language like in Brunei for the fluent bilingual global educational interests of Sabahans, mandating the teaching of now neglected Sabah history in local schools, and validating sale and use of electric bicycles, scooters, electrical personal mobility equipment that are outlawed by JPJ for sale and use on council roads.

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