In Malaysia, the practice of political appointment (rather than democratically elected by people) leaders in small communities(Kampung/Kampung Baru/Tamans/Kampung Orang Asli) - where this can be implemented and done by the State and/or even the Local Council.
However, with regard to Local Council/Local Government Elections - a FEDERAL law prevents elections. When not in control of Federal Government, both Penang(under DAP) and Selangor(under PKR) was going all out for the RESTORATION of Local Council/Local Government elections - an ISSUE that also increased people's support for DAP/PKR/Amanah (Pakatan Harapan) but after they came in power, they simply seem to forget this promise to increase democracy - but they were at least still considering or studying it - but when PM Anwar Ibrahim PH-led coalition government, it seem to have conveniently fallen off the government agenda or priorities.
HOW are people's PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 'stolen' by the practice of 'political appointment'?
Nothing STOPPING Kelantan, Trengganu and PAS/PN Ruled States from holding democratic elections to choose Ketua Kampung/Taman/Kampung Baru/Kampung Orang Asli/etc democratic elections. ONLY the ability to conduct Local Council Elections is BARRED by Federal LAW...
So, is PAS/PN Ruled States SAME with BN/PH - no democratic elections > still political appointment > not TRUSTING people to be able to choose their own leaders?
In Malaysia, by law or PRACTICE, people's opinion/views are sought by the Government when it comes to 'development projects' including new Housing Estates and big Buildings, it also sought for new factories, etc...
NOW, let us look at LYNAS the Rare Earth processing plant - did the people of Gebeng and Kuantan even asked their views/opinions before the approval was given to build the factory and allow it start their business?? Was it just the political appointed Ketua Kampung/Kampung Baru/Taman/etc and/or JKKK/ JPKK / JPKKP/ Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung (MPKK) and Local Council that said OK - we consent > without any actual consultation with all the people in the affected communities? This is a THEFT of peoples participation RIGHTS??? Political appointees decided with NO real consultation with ALL the people?
BATU ARANG - Residents of a former coal-mining town in Malaysia’s Selangor state are up in arms over plans to build a RM4.5 billion (S$1.3 billion) incinerator in their district, fearing health hazards from the waste plant’s emissions. - Straits Times, 28/1/2024
Over 50 residents from four housing estates in Gelang Patah, Johor, held Malaysia's first public data centre protest on February 7, 2026, targeting a construction site by China's Zdata Technologies. [1, 2]
Gelang Patah, Johor: Residents demonstrated near a 15.4-hectare Zdata Technologies construction site (developed via Tropicana Firstwide) located less than a kilometer from homes. Protesters demanded an end to severe dust pollution, health protections, and local water security. [1, 2, 3]
- Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya: Residents and civil groups opposed AI data centre proposals near residential zones and parks, urging the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to reconsider project notices. Developers later withdrew the application following public pressure and a petition that gathered over 6,000 signatures. [1, 2, 3]
- Some 5,000 people gathered today to protest the massive land reclamation of three artificial islands in the Penang South Reclamation project. FMT, 8/9/2019
Fishermen in Penang, Malaysia, are against a reclamation project on the island’s southern coast, saying it will affect their livelihood. Some 1,000 fishermen from 14 fishermen units (unit nelayan) from Sungai Pinang in Jelutong to Kuala Sungai Pinang in Balik Pulau gathered at the Sungai Batu beach here yesterday to protest against the proposed project. - International Collective in Support of Fish Workers
Bukit Damansara or Damansara Heights is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most prestigious addresses. Also known as the “Beverly Hills of Malaysia”, the affluent and upscale neighbourhood is home to many of the nation’s elites. So, when as many as 300 residents led by former minister-turned-political podcaster Khairy Jamaluddin gathered to protest against a proposed high-rise project in their midst, the online backlash was swift. - Straits Times, 10/10/2025
Villagers from Kampung Baharu in Jerantut, Pahang, Malaysia, have carried out peaceful and legal protests against commercial logging in Compartment 1 of the Jerantut Permanent Forest Reserve. [1, 2, 3]
Before in Malaysia, before the Local/State/Federal Government gives APPROVAL, the people, the public, is INVITED to voice their views about the proposed project to the government - a deadline given and the address to submit their views - This was done also by a BIG SIGNBOARD usually placed at the intended proposed site... and the people views will be considered before the government gives FINAL approval. If needed, if there is a request, the relevant government authority will call for a PUBLIC MEETING to hear the people's views.
Then, the government changed the laws - and REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT OF ANY SUCH PUBLIC SIGNBOARD - calling for public views before ANY approval is given or rejected.
This GOOD PRACTICE must be brought back - as it allowed views of Malaysians be taken into account BEFORE approval is given. BRING back those NOTICE BOARDS inviting public input before any development project is approved.
Another way, is to call for public feedback using Local Government websites...now, not there.
TODAY, most Malaysians know of any development project only AFTER approval granted and building started...
HAS MALAYSIA ABANDONED THE PRACTICE OF CONSULTING WITH THE PEOPLE BEFORE APPROVING THESE PROJECTS?
NO, Consultations still go one - but NO MORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC or the people in the affected area > but the 'politically appointed' Kampung/Kampung Baru/Taman/etc leaders - who give their 'APPROVAL' without consulting the people.
Likewise, other political appointed structures like the JKKK/ JPKK / JPKKP/ Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung (MPKK) - the people in there are not DEMOCRATICALLY elected by the people, and sometimes it also include Ketua Kampungs, etc again politically appointed not directly elected by community they are supposed to represent. Sometimes gets APPROVAL of these JKKK/JPKK/JPKKP/MPKK/similar structures - but this certainly is NOT the REAL or ACTUAL approval of the people they 'claim' to represent
JKKK stands for Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (Village Development and Security Committee), which is the lowest tier of grassroots administration for rural villages in Malaysia. JPKK / JPKKP: Frequently referred to or restructured as Jawatankuasa Pembangunan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JPKK) under state governments, or JPKKP if appointed by the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development in states not aligned with the federal government. In states governed by Pakatan Harapan (at certain times), JKKK was rebranded as Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung (MPKK)
From MY own experience,
In Petaling Jaya, when a high rise flats/apartment project was being protested by the people. When I checked, the authorities claimed that the people had been consulted before and they APPROVED the project - they said all the members of the committee representing the people in JKKK/JPKK/JPKKP/MPKK/similar structures. In this case, I found that some in these 'committees' were not even resident in the said area. The people in the area that I met strongly DENIES any consultation to get their views/opinions happened.
In the recent, Jerantut case, where they were planning to LOG the Forest adjacent to Malay Kampung - it was found that some KETUA Kampungs in nearby villages had sign a LETTER Consenting To The Logging - the one's that allegedly asked them for these 'consent letters' was the agents of the LOGGING company, and not even the government authority who had the final say on deciding that LOGGING proceeds. Of course, these politically appointed KETUA Kampungs gave their approval on behalf of ALL in the Kampung - it was given without even the kampung people being consulted. Why did these KETUA KAMPUNGS give such letter - well, in this case, it was because of the promise of MONEY? other benefits for the Village, etc.
The problem with POLITICAL APPOINTEE is the FEAR of NOT just DOING what the appointing government/authority wants > if you do not, you risk REMOVAL or not being appointed again????
The other problem also is ABUSE OF POWER and even CORRUPTION - there is NO LAW at present dealing with DECISIONS of politically appointed community leaders making without even consulting the people of the community, sometimes even without consulting other political appointees in that community 'committee'. Should it BE a CRIME if the politically appointed decides without consulting the people?
THIS existence of POLITICALLY appointed community leaders, who are NOT Democratically elected by the PEOPLE, ROBS People of their RIGHT of PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - it is not the peoples' views that are forwarded to the government, but simply the view of the political appointee(usually the view of the State/Federal/Local Government that appointed them to that position.
The RIGHT of PUBLIC Participation may be there in LAW or in POLICY, but the PEOPLE themselves LOSES it by reason that it is 'STOLEN' by the political appointees, who naturally will not want to 'anger' the political powers or government that gave them that position/POWER...If there was democratic elections, then the FEAR will be rejection by the people if they fail the people - by not informing, not consulting, etc..
There is NO FEDERAL LAW that prohibits DEMOCRATIC elections of the communities in Kampung/Kampung Baru/Tamans/Flats/Apartments/Condominiums.
That is WHY we need to know whether the PAS/Perikatan Nasional RULED States is DIFFERENT from BN and/or PH > that they have DEMOCRATICALLY elected leaders in their Kampung/Kampung Baru/Tamans/etc > if they too are HAPPY with POLITICAL APPOINTMENT > then they just the SAME as BN or PH >>>
Thus, VOTING for PAS or PERIKATAN NASIONAL will not bring us GREATER Democracy - as they too practice the culture of 'POLITICAL APPOINTMENT' - it is a SHAME.
MANY MALAYSIAN VOTER ARE NOW DECIDING WHO TO VOTE FOR IN COMING STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS...
If voting PAS/PN will give us greater DEMOCRACY - and an END of political appointment, and this was demonstrated how in PAS/PN ruled states - kampung/kampung baru/Taman leadership are all democratically elected by the people/communities and NOT 'politically appointed' - that would be a PLUS point to also show that PAS/PN respects peoples' right of public participation in governance.
What is PAS/PN position on Local Government/Council elections?
Parties that believe in the 'POLITICAL APPOINTMENT' rather that letting the people to democratically vote their leaders in their communities - says that they 'DO NOT TRUST PEOPLE' so government must choose and decide on who will be leaders at the Kampung/Kampung Baru/Tamans/etc... Should we SUPPORT political parties that DO NOT TRUST PEOPLE?? Malaysians are not to be treated like 'CHILDREN' incapable to wisely choose our leaders..
So many political parties we can vote for - and to CHOOSE people need to know the DIFFERENCES between parties, and the position of POLITICAL parties on fundamental issues, and one of the most important issue is DEMOCRACY and true people's participation in governance.
In some countries like Switzerland, for any significant development project even the building of small bridges, there is a REFERENDUM. In Thailand, there is a DEMOCRATIC Elections of the 'Ketua Kampung" [Phuyaiban (Village Headman)] for a 5 year term.
.. Village head elections, or "Pilkades," in Indonesia are grassroots elections in which villagers elect their village heads. These elections usually take place every six years and are important for local government, as they ensure that community leaders are elected by the people they serve, thereby fostering a more democratic and participatory form of local government
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