THE Penang Government’s attempt to implement local council elections is against federal laws and the Constitution, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung.

He chided Pakatan Rakyat for playing politics, linking it to the local councils’ ability to serve the people. “If the Kelana Jaya (PKR-Gwo-Burne Loh) and Cheras (DAP-Tan Kok Wai) MPs sincerely put the rakyat first, the issue that should be given attention is the effectiveness of the councils’ delivery system and their ability and efficiency in managing their income effectively.

“Local council elections are not the yardstick of the effectiveness and ability of their delivery system,” he said.

He said that Penang’s move to pass the Local Council Election (Pulau Pinang and Seberang Prai) Enactment 2012 to hold local council elections ran counter to both federal laws and the Constitution.

“Based on the law, it is clear that the provisions on local council elections are void or cease to have effect or force,” he said to a question by Gwo-Burne.

Chor said that Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1976 superseded the earlier Local Government Elections Act 1960 which made the Penang Government’s legislation invalid. “In addition to this, the action by the Penang Government in passing the enactment without consulting the National Council for Local Government is against Article 95A(6) of the Federal Constitution which makes such consultation mandatory.”

-The Star-