DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said bringing back the third vote had always been the party’s stand as it believed local council elections promoted greater democracy.

However, he said the government would first focus on fulfilling the pledges in its election manifesto.

“Let us go step by step, fulfilling our election promises before we pursue other commitments,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

“We support the housing minister’s push for local council elections,” he added, referring to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin

He was responding to questions on Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that the government would not restore the third vote. The prime minister had cited concerns of racial conflicts, saying local council elections might produce the “wrong results”.

Zuraida said in July that her ministry intended to hold local government elections in three years’ time, after the nation’s finances and economy stabilise.