1.

0 INTRODUCTION

Local Government Act, (171), may be characterised as an act to reform and harmonise the
laws connected to local government in Malaysia, according to (1976, as mentioned in Akta
Kerajaan Tempatan,2015). Aside from that, the act is helpful for the only purpose of ensuring
the equality of law and policy in making law with regard to local government, and it is the
principal Act that controls the duties and privileges of local government in our country. The
Local Government Act of 1976 is divided into 16 parts and 166 sections.

Local Government Act 171 in Peninsular Malaysia is governed by uniform legislation passed
by Parliament under Article 76(4) of the Federal Constitution. This is due to the fact that
local government elections have not been held since they were terminated in 1965. Local
Government is an Act that was enacted to check and integrate the laws pertaining to local
government. n.c., 2017 The goal of the Local Government Act 171 is to provide uniformity
of law and policy in the creation of a legislation governing local government. The Local
Government Act of 1976 must only apply to Peninsular Malaysia. (2006, The Commissioner
of Law Revision)

The Local Government Act 171 is the primary act in Malaysia that governs the rights and
activities of local governments. It gives all local governments the authority to carry out their
tasks in order to assist enhance the performance of local governments in terms of their
functions. According to the Local Government Act 171, the five main provisions of local
government which are policy and decision makers, protect the interest of the people, attend
the full council meeting, oversee the overall running and administration of the council and
representative of people in council.
2.3 ATTEND FOR THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING

The meetings will be conducted once a month, during which the important policy choices
will be addressed and decisions will be taken. The councillors are required to attend the
sessions since they will be debating topics pertaining to the policies themselves. According to
Section 20 of the Local Government Act of 1976, an ordinary meeting shall be convened by
the local authority for the growth of business on such days and hours as it may from time to
time appoint, but not less than once a month. This statement meant that the local government
had to meet with the councillors once a month. If councillors fail to attend the meeting, the
local authority will take appropriate measures. According to Section 17(1) of the Local
Government Act of 1976, the local authority may alter the regulations for preserving good
conduct and discipline among officers and employees with the consent of the State Authority.
Local authorities may also take appropriate decision or penalty against officials or employees
who are found guilty of misconduct or breach of duty while performing their official duties.

2.4 OVERSEE THE OVERALL RUNNING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE

COUNCIL

Councillors have many various tasks. As a representative, councillors must engage with
individuals and the community on a wide variety of different issues, and it is also necessary
to be a good leader in the society. To guarantee that the government can manage the citizens
successfully, councillors must always monitor the operating and administration of the
councils, such as staff appointments, budget approvals connected to the government and the
state, and approval of any development plan in the state. The relevant provision is Act 171
Section 28, which states that every local authority may appoint a committee of a specific or
general nature, consisting of a chairman and a number of councillors, as well as any other
people that the government considers appropriate and suitable for the purpose of examining
and reporting on matters or implementing any act that, in the opinion of the local authority,
would be more conveniently carried out by the responsible appointing authority. Another
provision that is connected is Act 171 Section 14, which states that when the local authority
wants to award the common seal, it must be in the custody of the secretary and must be
certified by the signatures of the president or mayor, one councillor, and the secretary. The
common seal must also be considered legal and notified by the judiciary. The common seal
indicates that the government has given its consent on a certain vital topic. (Local
Government Act, 1967; Local Government Act, 2015).

For example, with the consent of the local authority from the government of Negeri
Sembilan, a budget of RM433,000 has been provided to the 433 Village Community
Management Council (MPKK) to conduct community activities in their own area in the state.
The Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, stated that each MPKK will get a one-time
payment of RM1000. He also stated that the local administration took a decision to explain
the outstanding water and power bills for the state's 246 public places. (Berita Harian Online,
2019)