SIBU: All local authorities have been urged to focus more on community engagement to realise the vision of them becoming model centres of community advancement by 2020.
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, said stakeholder engagement was among their strategic thrusts to move forward.
“This is our new role and part of the transformation process that all councils need to undertake to become people-oriented.
“In other words, local councils need to shift from their traditional roles to engaging with the community so that whatever programmes rolled out are sustainable due to active participation by the people and having ownership.
“That is the way forward so that, be it enforcement, safe city and so on, it would involve the community,” Dr Penguang said in his opening speech at the Local Council Seminar held at RH Hotel here yesterday.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh was the guest-of-honour at the two-day event.
Some 260 people from 26 local authorities in the state are taking part.
Five papers were presented yesterday, while another three are expected to be presented today.
Penguang also advised local councils to work closely with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector.
He cited as a good example the management of the 24 parks and open spaces here that is sponsored by the private sector.
“I think this is the most among all local councils in Sarawak.”
Such partnership would enable the councils to save in terms of manpower and money, he added.
He also said all local councils were well equipped in providing effective and excellent service delivery.
This was because the ministry had over the years initiated and implemented a series of quality management initiatives with the objectives of enhancing and harmonising the structure, system, processes and people of the local authorities.
“Among others are restructuring of local authorities in terms of structure, system, processes and people to address its structural and system defects, and to ensure that professionals with proper attitude, skills and knowledge are recruited to spearhead the enormous challenges facing local councils.”
The formulation of five-year strategic plans reflected choices about how scarce resources and management time should be allocated, he said.
Penguang added that there was also a formulation of strategic human resource development plan to identify key training areas.
Others were implementation of the 5S programme; MS ISO 9001:2008 for 20 local councils and ministry for 10 important core business processes; implementation of a common ICT system for 24 local councils known as e-LA system, star rating for all local councils; develop key focus activities; innovation and creative circles; continuously reviewed and revamped counter services; and repealed, reviewed and updated the relevant legislations to enhance enforcement capacity of local councils.
On the papers presented, he said it was more towards sharing of best practices in enforcement work, community development programme, safe city and environment.