GEORGE TOWN: The state government will initiate efforts to set up the "Council of Elders" this year in line with its aim to fulfill its election manifesto of implementing local government elections.

Hampered by federal legislature which prevented the state government from holding the elections, the state government is hoping to hold its own interim voting process, via the proposed council.

The Local Government Act states that all provisions relating to local government elections shall cease to have force or effect and that all councillors, including presidents, be appointed by the state government.

Penang used to hold local government elections in the 1950s but the last local government election was held in 1969 and subsequently abolished by Section 15C of the Local Government Act 1976.

The proposed council would consist of esteemed members of society who would be involved in the selection of councillors for both the Penang Island and Seberang Perai municipal councils.

Local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said at a press conference the move would enable the state government to improve on the current selection process.

Currently, representatives from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition and non-governmental organisations are appointed to serve a one-year term.

The council was one of the key recommendations of the state-appointed Local Government Elections Working Group (LGEWG) in June last year.

The LGEWG also recommended that the council be made up of five to nine citizens of good reputation, to be responsible for selecting councillors by holding informal elections to keep the flames of local democracy alive in Penang.

It also called on the state government to draw up the terms of reference for the council and the council members must also be changed periodically for a wider selection of councillors.

Following the recommendations of the LGEWG, a resolution was passed during the state legislative assembly last year to urge the federal government to reinstate local government elections.

At the press conference attended by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Chow announced the list of 24 municipal councillors for each council.

Chow also announced an increase in the allowances for the municipal councillors from RM600 per month previously to RM700.

The councillors also would enjoy an increase in the allowance for attending meetings from RM50 per meeting previously (up to eight meetings per month) to RM60 per meeting (up to 10 meetings per month).