Daniel Ngieng
SIBU: Deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council Daniel Ngieng said that the people could see for themselves if the council is doing a good job or otherwise.
He said that certain quarters were using the council as punching bag for their expediency.
“However, we are not distracted. In fact, we can take it as a challenge to push on so that we can improve our services to serve the people better
“In the process of change, we are bound to meet some resistance. We understand that SMC is constrained by the limited resources at hand. We have to cope with the rising public expectation, and this is a reality which we can’t evade,” he told a press conference after the monthly council meeting on Tuesday.
Ngieng said the main thrust for the councillors was on policy-making; that they could also contribute ideas, inputs, feedback and wisdom for better running of the council.
“We are duty bound to go to the ground to understand the actual situation and to be close to the people. We should lend support to our staff and help by complementing the efforts of our administration.
“At the end of the day, it’s the results that count. We must do away with partisan politics because Barisan Nasional represents a collective leadership with shared responsibility.
“We’re answerable to the people and also accountable to the rate payers,” he said.
He was grateful that council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King had allowed more consultation in the decision-making process for the council.
“Apart from the many standing committee meetings, the various sub-committee meetings and the many briefings and discussions every now and then, he has come up with one briefing and discussion session every month so that all councillors are fully briefed on issues or decisions which come under any of the eight standing committees,” Ngieng said.
The briefing and discussion sessions, he said, had enabled councillors to engage in more deliberation and discussion on policy matters and decisions.