Noting that those who are appointed are almost always political party appointees, the chapter’s vice-chairperson, Ann Teo, said holding elections would empower Sarawak voters and ensure that citizens become involved in electing their local representatives.
“This will render their decision-making on, for example, development plans for the area or budgets and management of funds, more accountable to the people.
“If the people are given the opportunity to participate and elect our local representatives at the council level, it will definitely result in a more inclusive, responsive and accountable government,” she said in a statement.
The proposal was put forward by PKR’s Bandar Kuching branch chairman Simon Siah on Friday.
Borneo Post reported Siah as saying that the councils’ powers should be decentralised so that the people could choose for themselves who to hear their daily complaints.
Teo said local councils are the authorities responsible for the development and liveability of a town or district.
“They are responsible for ensuring that water piping, drainage and roads are maintained. They are principally responsible for town planning and development,” she added.
Urging the Sarawak government to return the rights of the people to choose their representatives at the local council level, she said Kuching had held its first local council election in 1956, which was contested by 58 people.
She pointed to the Kuching Municipal Council (KMC) flats, built the following year in response to the high cost of private housing at the time.
“The flats were tenanted out by the council at cheap rental to fulfil the needs of those who could not afford their own.
“In this day and age, what should and would be the priorities of the local council now in the development of Kuching as a city?”