Johor municipal councillors to be given decision-making powers

KUALA LUMPUR (July 13): The state government of Johor wants to give its municipal councillors decision and policy making powers in preparation for local council elections.

Johor Local Government, Science and Technology Committee chairman Tan Hong Pin was reported by The Malay Mail saying that this plan was part of the Pakatan Harapan’s reform agenda at the local government level and towards local council elections.

“The plan to empower municipal councillors for decision or policy making should be implemented in such a manner to avoid duplication of roles between them and the state assemblyman.

“The boundary of their roles should be clear between the two,” he said in a media statement yesterday.

“As our previous discussions with the Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, Johor’s local council elections is only expected to be implemented after obtaining direction from the federal government,” he added.

Tan is also the state assemblyman for Skudai.

It was reported last month that Zuraida said local council elections can be implemented within three years.

“We may be able to implement this selection in stages like in Selangor and Penang before it is held nationwide.

“We have to look at the cost implications too … but I can see it happening in about three years (from now),” she said.