LOCAL GOVERNMENT(Local Council/district council,City Council, etc) Election must be held to restore Malaysian's democratic right to elect Councillors in Local Government - End Political Appointment - and Return the people's right to choose their own Councillors that decide on matters concerning the local area where we live, do business, - We have the right to decide what is allowed in our area of residence...
So, coming State Elections - VOTE FOR PARTIES/CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS - not parties that still want to continue the POLITICAL APPOINTEE culture which does not represent or care for people in the area of the Local Government. TRUST THE PEOPLE - WE ARE NOT KIDS.. None of your business if we choose Opposition candidates or candidates from governing parties >> It is the peoples' choice and that is DEMOCRACY.
Pakatan Harapan said they would have elections - but then PN government decided not to. But now, under PM Anwar Ibrahim, his Minister says no plans to introduce local council elections. MUDA and PSM came out in favour of Local Council Elections..
Local Government is like the State Government and the Federal Government. They can make laws and enforce them.Local government decides on the businesses that can operate, and also give permissions to build houses, shops, incinerators, etc. They also decide on house/building rates - cukai harta. [State government decide on land tax-cukai tanah only]
The unity government has no plans to introduce local council elections for the moment, said Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming. - NST, 27/2/2023
Federal Government - After GE15, when people voted in the Members of Parliament, then the Members of Parliament chose the Prime Minister(who must have the support of the majority of MPs), and the King formalises it by APPOINTING the Prime Minister.
State Elections - again the people VOTE their ADUNs(State Legislative Representatives), and the ADUN who has the support of the majority of the ADUNs will be appointed by the Sultan or the State Ruler to be the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister.
Local Government Elections - the people VOTE for the Local Councillors, and then the Local Councilor with majority support of the Local Councilors may be appointed Mayor or President of the Local Government.
Local council elections, previously a mainstay, were suspended in the 1960s during the Emergency Proclamation following the Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation.In 1976, the government passed the Local Government Act which led to the abolishment of local council elections.
Before GE14, the Pakatan Rakyat States, DAP/PKR/PAS were fighting for Local Council Elections - and the problem was that there were Federal laws that had to be amended so that we can once again have local council(local government) elections. When PH came into power after GE14, they said in a few years. Then excuses made like 'non-Malays' may win, etc >> nonsense, as this cannot happen in Malaysia today as there will be constituencies and the majority will be Malay majority.
Now, the excuse is 'too expensive' - Without local council elections, the Councillors are appointed by the State of Federal in case of Federal Territories - POLITICAL APPOINTMENT. So, these Councillors first loyalty is to the appointer, the State, and not to the people living in the Local Council area. Most Malaysians do not even know their Local Councillors, as these Local Councillors also seldom meet or consult with the people.
The State/Federal government wants to build a dangerous rare earth factory or an Incinerator, but they cannot do this if the Local Council objects >> but did the Local Councillors or the Local Council even consult with the people before agreeing to whatever the State or Federal government wants to do.
The Batang Kali tragedy - about 31 dead, and the Highland Towers tragedy that saw 48 dead > Well, blame also lies with the Local Council(Local Government) who approves building palns/buildings, campsites, etc > but did any Local Councillor apologize or resign? If elected, the people will speak out come next Local Council elections and VOTE out 'bad' Councillors. Who gave license? Why no laws governing campsite operations?
The landslide at Father's Organic Farm in Batang Kali, near here, on Dec 16[2022] is Malaysia's second worst disaster in terms of fatalities, after the Highland Towers condominium collapse in 1993 which claimed 48 lives, according to the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART).Thirty-one people were killed in the 2.30am incident but 61 survived after tonnes of earth came crashing down on the farm campsite.
The Local Authority is responsible for the maintenance of all roads, signboards around your house and Taman. Your MP or ADUN can just ASK the Local Council to look into it - they cannot ORDER anything - it is under the power of Jurisdiction of the Local Authority.
The LOCAL GOVERNMENT has a LOT OF POWERS with regard the area that comes within their jurisdiction, and it not right that State or Federal 'controls' this powers through their political appointees - The Malaysian people should have the right to CHOOSE their own Councillors through a DEMOCRATIC ELECTION. The term of office could be made 3 years or even 5 years just like the term of ADUNs or MPs.. LET THE PEOPLE CHOSE THEIR PEOPLES' REPRESENTATIVE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT...
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1976
72 Powers(1) A local authority shall have power to do all or any of the following things, namely -
(a) to establish, maintain and carry out such sanitary services for dealing with effluent;
(b) to establish, erect, maintain, let, control and manage markets and market buildings, lodging houses, rooms or buildings kept for public refreshment, shops, stalls and stands, and to control the occupation and use thereof;
(c) to license temporary buildings, stalls, tables, showboards, barrows, carts, tricycles or other receptacles, whether stationary or otherwise, set up or used for the sale or exposing for sale of -
(i) any food or drink in streets, public places or places of public resort or on private premises;
(ii) goods other than food or drink in streets, public places or places of public resort, and to seize, destroy or dispose of the same if they are not so licensed;
(d) to establish, erect and maintain public lavatories, closets and urinals, either above or below ground, in any public place;
(e) to establish, erect, maintain and control abattoirs, whether within or without the local authority area;
(f) to safeguard and promote the public health and to take all necessary and reasonably practicable measures -
(i) for preventing the occurrence of any infectious communicable or preventable disease;
(ii) (Deleted by Act A1311:s.2)
(iii) for preventing the occurrence of, or for remedying or causing to be remedied, any nuisance or condition likely to be injurious or dangerous to health;
(g) to establish, erect, equip, maintain, control and operate cold storage works and depots for the inspection of meat;
(h) to establish, erect, equip, maintain, control and operate depots for the inspection, treatment, distribution, purchase and sale of milk or milk products;
(i) to establish, acquire, erect, maintain, control and operate laundries and places for washing clothes; and
(j) to establish, erect, maintain, control and operate disinfecting stations.
101 Further powers of local authority - In addition to any other powers conferred upon it by this Act or by any other written law a local authority shall have power to do all or any of the following things, namely -
(a) to erect, maintain and keep in repair buildings as may be required for local authority purposes and for the accommodation of local authority staff;
(b) to plant, trim or remove trees;
(c) (i) to construct, maintain, supervise and control public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children's playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia, community centres and refreshment rooms;
(ii) to lease, acquire, let, layout, plant, improve, equip and maintain lands for the purpose of being used as public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children's playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia and community centres and to erect thereon any pavilion, recreation room or refreshment room or other buildings;
(iii) to support or contribute to the support of public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children's playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia, community centres and charitable, religious, educational, social or welfare organisations or institutions;
(iv) to maintain or contribute to the maintenance of historical buildings or sites and acquire any land, with or without buildings, for the purpose of or in connection with the establishment of such public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children's playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia and community centres or for the purpose of or in connection with the maintenance of historical building or sites;
(d) to execute works of such general advantage to the inhabitants of the local authority area;
94 Local authority may provide burial grounds and crematoria and issue licences for the same(1) A local authority may provide suitable places within or without the local authority area to be used as burial grounds or crematoria and shall make proper provision for maintaining the same.
107 Licences - (1) A local authority in the granting of any licence or permit may prescribe the fees for such licence or permit and the charges for the inspection or supervision of any trade, occupation or premises in respect of which the licence is granted.
MONEY - Local Council(Local Government) have a LOT OF MONEY - and holding elections will not burden the finances of the Local Council. Is the ability to CONTROL the monies by the State/Federal Government another reason for preferring POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS rather than DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS?
39 Revenue of the local authority
The revenue of a local authority shall consist of-
(a) all taxes, rates, rents, licence fees, dues and other sums or charges payable to the local authority by virtue of the provisions of this Act or any other written law;
(b) all charges or profits arising from any trade, service or undertaking carried on the by local authority under the powers vested in it;
(c) all interest on any monies invested by the local authority and all income arising from or out of the property of the local authority, movable and immovable; and
(d) all other revenue accruing to the local authority from the Government of the Federation or of any State or from any statutory body, other local authority or from any other source as grants, contributions, endowments or otherwise.
How many duties of the Local Council like garbage collection, grass cutting have been shifted to State/Federal chosen contractors over the years. Previously, Local Council themselves choose and appoint their own contractors(if needed) or use their own workforce? - I went to the Majlis Perbandaran Temerloh to ask for the collection of large material/old furniture - and the officer said that now the service is no more, as garbage collection has been taken over by the Federal appointed contractor. So the Local Council just 'channels request' to the Federal government who then have to deal with their contractor. The officer said previously the garbage collection service, when appointed directly by Local Council will provide the service of collecting old furniture, large items with a payment of about RM20. But now, they have no power to get the contractor anything else other than normal garbage collection. Now, the Local Council just pays the BILL with no right to say anything more to the contractor appointed by Federal - TRUE? Minister Nga must confirm..
We saw recent examples of this laws being enforced - indecent dressing by a business owner/employee, and a female hairdresser - male client... It was 'interesting' to see Minister Nga Kor Mine
According to the Kota Bharu City Hall’s business license criteria, it is against the law for non-Muslim female hairdressers to give haircuts to Muslims of the opposite sex....While, now in Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan, a female hairdresser was recently penalised for providing haircutting services to a male client....According to the Kota Bharu City Hall’s business license criteria, it is against the law for non-Muslim female hairdressers to give haircuts to Muslims of the opposite sex.- The Federal Minister claimed the dress matter was 'settled' but we did not hear anything the relevant City Hall >> Minister did not say that the by-law will be amended or repealed???
102 General power to make by-laws In addition to the powers of making by-laws expressly or impliedly conferred upon it by any other provisions of this Act every local authority may from time to time make, amend and revoke by-laws in respect of all such matters as are necessary or desirable for the maintenance of the health, safety and well-being of the inhabitants or for the good order and government of the local authority area and in particular in respect of all or any of the following purposes -
(a) to regulate...
121 Power of arrest (1) Any officer of the local authority authorised by the local authority or any police officer may arrest without warrant any person who commits in his presence or whom he reasonably believes to have committed any offence under this Act or any by-law, rule or regulation-
“However, the government of the day does not plan to implement local government elections. This is because the existing system of appointing PBT local Councillors had worked well. Expenses to carry out local government elections will involve a big allocation as implementation costs are very high. The cost of holding local government elections is estimated to be RM2 million for each PBT and RM302 million for all 151 PBT in the whole country,” he[Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican ] said.
“Besides that, if local government elections are held every two years, this will cause the focus in providing services to the public to be affected, since too much time and energy is focused on the process of election campaigns.
He went on to say that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition had promised in its election manifesto to revive local government elections to enable local councilors to be elected by the public. “However, the Cabinet on July 17, 2020 had agreed for this proposal to not be continued,” he said.
Local government elections
Although there used to be elections for members of local governments such as municipal councils, today, no local government elections are held in Malaysia. Local government elections were suspended after the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1964. The suspension was never lifted and instead made permanent under the Local Government Act 1976. Under the Act, or the laws of individual states where relevant, local government members are appointed by the state government.[2]
After Minister and People's Progressive Party President M. Kayveas raised concerns about local governments in late 2005, some suggested reviving local government elections. However, in an opinion column, the New Straits Times (owned by the United Malays National Organisation or UMNO, leading party of the Barisan Nasional) quoted a professor from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as saying that such elections would not be brought back because "policymakers know from experience worldwide that the Opposition tends to dominate such councils as part of the electorate's desire for checks-and-balances." The professor also stated that due to required constitutional changes, it would be difficult for such amendments to pass muster in Parliament. The column also quoted a government ministry as saying that "holding elections are expensive affairs".[3]
As of 2008, the Pakatan Rakyat states' governments would like to implement the local government election in their states. However, these was not carried out due to the Federal Constitution which prohibits the implementation. It was only after Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 Malaysian general election that the new government began the process of looking into and reintroducing local elections after 55 years, with a trial run slated for 2019 in select cities.[4]
END RESULT - democratically elected peoples' representative governs at all the levels of government - Federal Government, State Government and the Local Government.
But, now Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government CLAIMS to have the numbers to even amend Constitution and Laws - So why not do the needed to allow us to democratically elect Local Councillors, or at the very least allow States to be able to conduct Local Council elections if they want to in their respective States.
Repeal Section 15(1) of Local Government Act to enable Local Government elections.
15 Provisions relating to local government elections ceasing to have effect -LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1976(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any written law, all provisions relating to local government elections shall cease to have force or effect.
(2) All Councillors holding office immediately before the coming into force of this Act shall forthwith cease to hold office.
(3) For the purpose of this section, "Councillors" means-
(a) Members of Boards of Management appointed under subsection 4(1) of the *Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act 1973 [Act 124];
(b) Councillors or Commissioners of Municipal Councils;
(c) Councillors of Town Councils, District Councils or Rural District Councils; and
(d) Members of Town Boards or Local Councils.
See earlier post:-
Nga Kor Ming, a powerless Minister with no real power to ensure Local Government(Local Council) do as he says but he can bring back Local Council Elections or keep the political appointee system?
Local council elections not a priority right now, says Nga
KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government has no plans to introduce local council elections for the moment, said Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming.
He said it was not a priority for the ministry currently, as there are other areas it is currently working on, such as road safety, as well as cleaner public toilets and drains.
"Among the other pressing issues include empowering the local councils, developing the potential of local councils to generate additional sources of income for the country, as well as having more comprehensive housing planning and empowering the communities, regardless of race," he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Nga was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru), who had asked if the ministry had any plans to introduce local council elections in the country.
Local council elections, previously a mainstay, were suspended in the 1960s during the Emergency Proclamation following the Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation.
In 1976, the government passed the Local Government Act which led to the abolishment of local council elections.
DAP had over the years championed the return of local council elections. In 2019, the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territories DAP Convention passed a resolution calling for the restoration of local council elections.
However, when Pakatan Harapan came to federal power in 2018, then housing and local government minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin had said the nation "could not afford" to hold local elections.
Meanwhile, on an unrelated subject, Nga said the enactment of the Consumer Credit Act (CCA) will take into account the provision for syariah-compliant financing and Islamic pawnbroking by the non-banking industry.
He said the enactment of the new law, led by the Finance Ministry and the Securities Commission, is aimed at better protecting the interests of consumers.
He said this in response to a supplementary question posed by Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu), who asked about the number of community credit companies that were syariah-compliant.
Nga said up to Jan 31, there were 4,817 licensed holders of community credit companies in the country.
"Of the total, 60 per cent are Bumiputera," he said.
Nga said the government had no plans to increase the interest on community credit loans, even though the current rates offered were among the lowest compared to other countries.
He said the rates in Malaysia currently stood between 12 and 18 per cent.
Other countries, Nga said, such as Singapore is at 20 per
cent; Hong Kong is between 20 and 60 per cent; the Philliphones (no
limit, willing borrower and lender); Australia (48 per cent) and India
at 21 per cent.- NST, 27/2/2023
Local govt elections, a top priority
If now is not the time for Anwar Ibrahim to bring back this essential local election level of democracy to Malaysian society, when exactly can civil society expect its promised restitution?
While the various ministries are deciding their priorities, we hear the new ;ocal government development minister, Nga Kor Ming, say that restoring local council elections will not be the immediate focus of his ministry.
Who decides that this should be the case and on what basis? If now is not the time for the leader of reformasi, Anwar Ibrahim, to bring back this essential local election level of democracy to Malaysian society, one that has been suspended since 1965, when exactly can civil society expect its promised restitution?
This is not the first time we have seen the reneging of this basic democratic demand in the election manifesto by Pakatan Harapan (PH). After GE14 in 2018, then new housing and local government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin gave the same excuse, that the new government had to give priority to other important matters because the country could not afford to run local elections.
Appointments to local councils are a colonial practice
This justification for putting off the holding of local council elections is laughable when we bear in mind that even before we became independent, we had our very first democratic election – the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections of 1952. It was the first step we took on the way to self-government. At independence, we continued our commitment to local government elections because appointments to political office were seen as a colonial practice. This is remarkable considering how economically poor we were at independence compared to our economy today.
At independence, our GNP per capita was US$800. Our GDP per capita is now more than US$10,000 and we are supposed to be almost a high-income society, but we are told we can’t afford local government elections.
Then PH prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave the even more gobsmacking excuse that local government elections would be detrimental to race relations. His reasoning was that since most of the ethnic Chinese reside in urban areas while most of the Malays are in rural areas, the holding of local council elections would see urbanites governed by one race, with another race managing the rural areas.
In fact, during the early years of independence, Barisan Nasional (BN) was reluctant to have local council elections because many local council elections in the towns and cities tended to be won by the opposition. During the 60s, many towns and cities were run by the Socialist Front. This was the real reason for not wanting local elections, not because of the so-called racial divide. But then, Mahathir has never been noted for any commitment to justice, democracy, and human rights.
Furthermore, non-partisan local government is neither unique nor inconceivable. Local government in Malaya before 1960 was conducted without parties. Many cities around the world, including, for example, some of the largest in the US such as Los Angeles and Chicago, have non-partisan elections for their city councillors. There is no reason why race and religion should dominate over a healthy focus on the welfare and demands of ratepayers. Even in developing countries like Bangladesh and South Africa, the devolved local government system is widely recognised as one of the key institutional forms for a public service delivery system that ensures democratic governance at the grassroots level.
I have often stressed the fact that elected local government can, at a stroke, depoliticise education in Malaysia simply by building schools based on the need of the local communities rather than being treated like a political football in general elections by the education ministry. Few Malaysians have noticed, for example, that the all-important role of local education authorities in the Education Act 1961 is no longer mentioned in the new Education Act 1996. Local education authorities are familiar with their local community and can thus accurately match funds and facilities to the sectors most in need, which can counter the politicisation of education.
More convenient to appoint party cronies
It was clear that the Alliance and later BN opted for the convenience of appointing their own political party cronies as councillors rather than risk the uncertainties of democratic elections. Since 2008, the PH government has been following suit in the states they control, namely Selangor and Penang. This temptation for any ruling coalition is certainly strong, for the local tiers of government have been seen as the launch pad for political party appointees as well as their NGO allies all these years.
During the 10 years of PH rule in the states of Selangor and Penang, polls could have been held unofficially with the support of civil society and without requiring the Election Commission. But political party appointments provide the convenience of perpetuating patterns of patronage. The periodic outbursts of discontent by those party leaders and NGO activists who were overlooked are symptoms of this unhealthy party appointment system.
Local government elections long overdue
In the democratic tradition, taxation cannot be justified without representation. Ratepayers must be represented on the governing body which determines how that money is to be spent. This is a fundamental precept of parliamentary governance which is critically applicable at local-level government. It is to satisfy the requirement in a democratic society for greater pluralism, participation, and responsiveness.
The Royal Commission of Enquiry into the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia led by senator Athi Nahappan in 1968 recommended the return of elected local government. Their recommendation was not carried out by the BN government, and it proved to be the start of a disgraceful habit by the BN to ignore RCI recommendations.
If we hold fast to the time-honoured concept of "no taxation without representation", nominated local government undermines the legitimacy of local authorities to collect assessment rates which are the most important source of income of the local authorities. That is why the royal commission report concluded that the merits of elected local government with all its inherent weaknesses outweigh those of the nominated ones.
Local councils must be accountable and responsive to residents
Malaysians are no longer prepared to put up with negligence or irresponsibility. Residents whose voices objecting to crass so-called "development" projects, water disruptions and periodic floods have been ignored, are demanding that their voices be heard at the local council. In this sense, we can see why local authorities are considered the primary units of government. Many services including education, housing, health, and transportation require local knowledge and can be better coordinated and more efficiently implemented through the local authority.
Finally, we find that in the modern state, many social groups such as women and manual workers are grossly under-represented. Local government can provide them with the channels to air their concerns and to participate in decision making. Bottom-up local level participation is vital to ensure voters can influence decisions. Imagine how empowering it will be when we can determine who our local leaders are and vote them out if they prove to be unheedful of our demands, negligent or corrupt.
Bersih must lead the campaign to bring back local elections
Since PH has reneged on this promise to bring back elected local government, it is incumbent on Bersih to take up this challenge of fighting for our right to have this third tier of democracy. I am sure Malaysian civil society is totally behind Bersih on this move.
One would expect that as our society becomes more mature in the "new" Malaysia helmed by a reformasi champion, democratic principles of accountability at the local community level would be considered the highest of priorities and the new normal. After all, we are merely bringing back the democratic rights we had from 1957 to 1965.
Kua Kia Soong is a human rights activist.
Malaysia won’t have local government elections
Despite election manifesto promise, central appointment of local councilors will be continued
Malaysia will not revive local government elections, as it would cost at least RM302 million nationwide and such elections for local councilors may not necessarily guarantee the provision of good service to the public, a minister has said.
In a written parliamentary reply yesterday, Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said his ministry supports the government’s wishes to build a modern country that upholds democracy and empowers its citizens. He said this had been done through his ministry encouraging all local authorities (PBT) to carry out their meetings through live streaming to enable public involvement in PBT administration and to increase their confidence in PBT officers and local councilors’ integrity and professionalism, with 16 PBT already carrying out such live streaming activities.
“However, the government of the day does not plan to implement local government elections. This is because the existing system of appointing PBT local councillors had worked well. Expenses to carry out local government elections will involve a big allocation as implementation costs are very high. The cost of holding local government elections is estimated to be RM2 million for each PBT and RM302 million for all 151 PBT in the whole country,” he said.
He added that this was only an estimate of the minimum cost, as it does not include “hidden costs” that would have to be borne by other related agencies, such as the police for the purpose of controlling electoral safety and the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) for the control of the situation at the voting area.
Will good services be ensured? He went on to list other reasons why local government elections would not be carried out.
“Besides that, if local government elections are held every two years, this will cause the focus in providing services to the public to be affected, since too much time and energy is focused on the process of election campaigns.
“All these while, PBT could still give the best service to the public without local government elections and the implementation of local government elections is not a guarantee to ensure that,” he said.
Non-renewal of poorly performing local councilors’ appointments. Under the current system where PBT local councilors are appointed instead of elected by the public, the minister noted that local councilors who do not perform well would be dropped or not re-appointed after their term ends.
“Usually, local councillors’ appointment is for two years and those who show low performance would be dropped to ensure the service to the public is not affected,” he said.
He added that KPKT, through the cooperation of the KPKT training institute and the local government department, also provides training annually for local councillors, with the intention of providing exposure and the government’s direction to shape these councillors to be those capable of competently and effectively carrying out their duties to the public.
The ministry said it was also developing a guideline for the appointment of local councilors, which would include the need to fulfill the criteria of appointment tenure, academic qualifications or professional experience, and demographical composition such as ethnicity, gender and minority groups.
He went on to say that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition had promised in its election manifesto to revive local government elections to enable local councilors to be elected by the public. “However, the Cabinet on July 17, 2020 had agreed for this proposal to not be continued,” he said.
PH had won the May 2018 general elections and became the federal government until February 2020, which was when federal power changed hands to the Perikatan Nasional government under then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who led the country until August 2021. The country is now led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The written parliamentary reply was provided in response to Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who had asked whether KPKT intends and plans to hold local government elections in Malaysia and when it would be carried out if it intends to do so.
This article originally appeared in the Malay Mail on December 9, 2021.
According to the Kota Bharu City Hall’s business license criteria, it is against the law for non-Muslim female hairdressers to give haircuts to Muslims of the opposite sex.
EVERYONE is familiar with Kelantan because of its stunning, historically beautiful land, but let’s face it, in this instance, Kelantan is also renowned for having strict laws.
Not too long ago, The City Council penalised a store owner for showing up to work in shorts.
While, now in Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan, a female hairdresser was recently penalised for providing haircutting services to a male client.
It’s crucial to note that this is not a brand-new law and has been implemented in the state for a long time now.
According to the Kota Bharu City Hall’s business license criteria, it is against the law for non-Muslim female hairdressers to give haircuts to Muslims of the opposite sex.
As reported by Sin Chew Daily, Huang had gone to the City Council to discuss the fine that had been imposed on the female hairdresser with the appropriate authorities in hopes to not make the situation more political.
To conclude, as
of now the amount of the fine is still unknown and the Kota Bharu City
Hall has yet to come out with a statement either.- The Sun, 15/7/2023
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