KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — Perikatan Nasional federal lawmakers today dismissed a study that found over half of Malays in the capital city support mayoral elections, describing it as “just one study” while insisting their view that ethnic Bumiputera oppose local polls is factual.

Local council elections, once an election promise by Pakatan Harapan that was later scrapped, are again at the centre of public debate after De facto Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said the government had commissioned a study into opening up Kuala Lumpur’s mayoral post for contest.

Two weeks ago, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR) revealed the findings of a poll conducted by pollster Invoke, which showed 51 per cent of Malays surveyed backed the idea.

Opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said at a press conference in Parliament here that he believed “overall” Malays remain resistant to the idea of opening up the mayoral post for contest, although he did not provide data to substantiate his claim.

“That is just one study. There may be different studies that would have different outcomes. But overall, we don’t have to be hypocrites lah — if we ask the majority of Malays, they will say they don’t want mayoral elections,” the Kota Bharu MP asserted.

The PAS secretary-general pointed to excerpts from parliamentary debates showing opposition to local council elections by Malay lawmakers at the time. The debates took place during the enactment of the Federal Capital Act 1960.

When asked if views from more than half a century ago still carry weight today the Kota Bharu MP insisted they do, based on his view that nobody has contested the efficacy of placing the capital city's administration under federal jurisdiction.

“We need to look at the overarching objective of this legislature. This Act has never been challenged to cause unhealthy activities. All this while, KL’s mayors have performed their duties well. Even if there are weaknesses, for us, it shouldn’t go to the point of changing the system,” he said.

Opposition lawmakers, civil society groups, and residents’ associations, however, have long criticised the existing system, arguing it enables political patronage, opaque governance, and corruption.

Efforts to reinstate local polls have largely been hampered by racially-charged opposition, which supporters of council elections say makes objective debate on its benefits difficult.

Today, Takiyuddin reiterated his claim that pushing for mayoral elections in the capital could polarise the population as it would undermine Malay interests.

The PAS leader also suggested that opening the post for contest is a covert way for the DAP, a predominantly Chinese party, to gain control of the capital — a claim repeatedly cited to justify resisting local elections in the past.

“We know the DAP passed a resolution calling for local council elections to be reinstated in KL, and now the minister serving as federal territories minister is from that party,” he said.

“So, our question is whether the study conducted by the federal government is based on the pressure or struggle of a particular party, especially one in the government.”

PN lawmakers are demanding that Yeoh table a paper on the matter in the House of Representatives and allow it to be debated.