KUCHING: A study will be conducted to determine how many more Chinese community leaders would be required to serve the rising population.
Newly-appointed Temenggong Lu Kim Yong said this is part of efforts to reorganise and rejuvenate Kuching’s team of Chinese community leaders.
Based on feedback gathered so far, Lu said there is a need to increase the number of Chinese community leaders and cited Tabuan Jaya as an example of an area with many new residential estates.
On the number of new leaders required, he replied: “That we need to conduct a thorough study first. That is why it is vital for me to get feedback from community leaders of the respective areas.”
He added that a proposal would be submitted to the ministry concerned as soon as the study is completed.
Meanwhile, Lu called on all Chinese community leaders here to attend a meeting today (Sept 21) at Homestay Hotel, Ellis Road starting 2pm to deliberate various pertinent issues.
“Prior to my appointment as Temenggong, I was not a Kapitan, a Pemanca or a Penghulu. Hence, I have spent some time on understanding my role and responsibility as the only Chinese Temenggong of Kuching.
“There are 70 to 80 Chinese community leaders serving the people of Kuching and some of them may have yet to meet one another while others could have shied away from their duties,” said Lu, who received his appointment letter on Aug 10.
Lu said he was advised to bring Chinese community leaders closer together.
“I have tried to the best of my ability to contact them, but some remained unreachable. I hope they will come to the meeting after they read the news report,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Lu, who is also Federation of Kuching-Samarahan Chinese Associations president, said the meeting aimed to get feedback from Chinese community leaders as well as to update his list of contacts.
“Without the necessary details, I cannot contact them individually. Moreover, the meeting is also to iron out some major issues such as looking at an extension of service term.”
He said according to information provided by the Resident’s Office, the term of service for several Chinese community leaders had expired, but no effort of renewal had been initiated.
“Age is not an issue as long as they are still willing to serve. Even if their terms have expired, we can talk about it at the meeting and send in our recommendations to the authorities concerned.
“There are also cases when the post was left vacant after the community leader passed away. We shall also discuss who the appropriate candidates will be.”
Asserting that community leaders are tasked with bridging the gap between the government and the people, he said a series of seminars would be organised soon to keep them abreast of the latest government policies.
He said this would help them to better disseminate information to the people.