Star : Group: Pick councillors from Opposition parties

Group: Pick councillors from Opposition parties

PENANG: The new state administration should prove that it is a “truly democratic” government by appointing Barisan Nasional members as municipal councillors.

This would show that the DAP-PKR administration was a model for democracy because it was willing to appoint councillors from other parties although they did not win in the recent general election, state Khek Association president Datuk Dr Cheah See Kian said at the association’s AGM yesterday.

“Barisan has 11 assemblymen who are all Umno members. Although no Gerakan, MCA or MIC candidates were elected, representatives from the Barisan coalition should be considered for positions in the Penang and Seberang Prai municipal councils.

Dr Cheah lauded the new administration’s decision to appoint 10 NGO representatives to serve in the Penang and Seberang Prai councils.

“We do not need the government to make many promises. What we want is for the administration to be transparent and efficient,” he said.

He also urged the new administration to continue pushing for Penang’s listing by Unesco as a world heritage site and to look into setting up a new aquarium-cum-research centre.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was at the AGM, said the DAP’s ultimate aim was to restore local government elections.

“Until we can make that happen, we will appoint councillors from the DAP and PKR.

“For now, it is not feasible to appoint councillors from Barisan because we are in the midst of investigating some improprieties from the previous administration,” he added.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/24/nation/20732420&sec=nation