Referring to the possible differences between urban and rural demographics, he said local council elections might produce the “wrong results”.

“Urban will be different and rural will be different. There will be conflict, probably emphasised by racial differences.

“We don’t want that to happen,” he told reporters at a press conference after officiating a convention on strengthening local councils here.

In July, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said her ministry intended to hold local government elections in three years’ time.

She said such elections could only be done after the nation’s finances and economy stabilise.

Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad likewise said setting up local elections for the Kuala Lumpur City Hall could take years.

He also said there was no time frame for the establishment of local government elections.