Penang state govt questions EC’s neutrality on third vote
The Penang state government today questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission (EC) after it turned down the request for local government elections without consultation with the state. Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the state had requested to discuss the local polls request with the EC via a letter dated March 4 after its executive councillors on March 3 unanimously agreed to hold local elections for the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP). He maintained that Article 113(4) of the Federal Constitution empowered the EC to conduct elections apart from those involving state and parliamentary elections, stressing that the Penang government also was relying on provisions in the Local Government Act 1976 and the Local Government Elections Act 1960 in restoring the local government elections. "The Local Government Elections Act 1960 has not been repealed. If the EC is unsure whet...