Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia
Local government in Malaysia occupies the third and lowest level after federal and state governments. Under the Malaysian federal constitution (paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Ninth Schedule), local government is the responsibility of the states, but the federal government also exercises considerable powe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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UTS ePRESS
2008-04-01
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| Series: | Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance |
| Online Access: | https://learning-analytics.info/journals/index.php/cjlg/article/view/759 |
| _version_ | 1818498599136264192 |
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| author | Siew Nooi Phang |
| author_facet | Siew Nooi Phang |
| author_sort | Siew Nooi Phang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Local government in Malaysia occupies the third and lowest level after federal and state governments. Under the Malaysian federal constitution (paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Ninth Schedule), local government is the responsibility of the states, but the federal government also exercises considerable power and influence over local government, especially in peninsular Malaysia. The dynamic of the Malaysian federal system is such that it has shifted the balance of power to the centre.
Local government accounts for only 1% of GDP. There are 144 local authorities divided into cities (major administrative and commercial centres), municipalities (other urban areas), and districts (chiefly rural areas). Executive powers rest with the Mayor (cities) or President, supported and/or overseen by a system of committees. Currently, local councils in Malaysia are not elected: councillors are appointed by the state government for 3-year terms (with the option of re-appointment) and in most cases come from the ruling coalition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T20:17:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bcedbb2eea6c472aa540925252dbbc2e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1836-0394 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T20:17:47Z |
| publishDate | 2008-04-01 |
| publisher | UTS ePRESS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance |
| spelling | doaj.art-bcedbb2eea6c472aa540925252dbbc2e2022-12-22T01:35:09ZengUTS ePRESSCommonwealth Journal of Local Governance1836-03942008-04-01110.5130/cjlg.v1i0.759515Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in MalaysiaSiew Nooi Phang0University of MalayaLocal government in Malaysia occupies the third and lowest level after federal and state governments. Under the Malaysian federal constitution (paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Ninth Schedule), local government is the responsibility of the states, but the federal government also exercises considerable power and influence over local government, especially in peninsular Malaysia. The dynamic of the Malaysian federal system is such that it has shifted the balance of power to the centre. Local government accounts for only 1% of GDP. There are 144 local authorities divided into cities (major administrative and commercial centres), municipalities (other urban areas), and districts (chiefly rural areas). Executive powers rest with the Mayor (cities) or President, supported and/or overseen by a system of committees. Currently, local councils in Malaysia are not elected: councillors are appointed by the state government for 3-year terms (with the option of re-appointment) and in most cases come from the ruling coalition.https://learning-analytics.info/journals/index.php/cjlg/article/view/759 |
| spellingShingle | Siew Nooi Phang Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance |
| title | Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia |
| title_full | Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia |
| title_short | Decentralisation or Recentralisation? Trends in local government in Malaysia |
| title_sort | decentralisation or recentralisation trends in local government in malaysia |
| url | https://learning-analytics.info/journals/index.php/cjlg/article/view/759 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT siewnooiphang decentralisationorrecentralisationtrendsinlocalgovernmentinmalaysia |