Muda deputy president Zaidel Baharuddin proposed introducing a directly elected mayor for Kuala Lumpur as a pilot project for local democracy. (Facebook pic)KUALA LUMPUR: State governments fear a loss of reliance if local councils are elected, Muda deputy president Zaidel Baharuddin told a forum here today. He said opposition to local elections extended to political parties on both sides, and was no longer confined to Barisan Nasional.

Speaking at a workshop on politics here, Zaidel said state governments had limited powers of taxation, while local councils generated revenue through property assessment taxes, licences and other fees. They also played a key role in implementing state policies, including those related to land use and development.