Dr Sim speaks to journalists. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
KUCHING: The release of a full list of mayors, chairmen, deputy mayors and deputy chairmen of the 24 councils in Sarawak at 5.18pm yesterday by Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian was a surprise to many, though there were also some who celebrated with jubilation.
Less than an hour later, The Borneo Post learnt that Dr Sim had been asked to retract the name list as it has not been approved by the Chief Minister’s Office and also not been endorsed by Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
According to the Chief Minister’s senior private secretary Wan Khalik Wan Mohammad, it has not been endorsed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“We ask Dr Sim to retract. Not approved yet by CM,” Wan Khalik said in a Whatsapp message. Similarly when contacted, the TYT’s senior private secretary Datu Mustapha Han also confirmed that his office has not received such a list.
Commenting on the issue, United People’s Party (UPP) secretary George Lo said the circulation of the list by Dr Sim before it was approved and endorsed by Taib and Adenan was gross disrespect to the Head of State and Chief Minister.
“I think it is tantamount to an attempt to pre-empt the prerogative of the TYT (or Head of State) to endorse the list. This is contrary to Dr Sim’s own statement two days ago that he cannot disclose the list until they have received the TYT’s endorsement.” said Lo.
“In any government where the rule of law applies, any minister who pulls a stunt like that would be expected to resign immediately,” he pointed out.
“A government minister cannot act with disrespect to the Head of State,” he stressed.
In a press statement when releasing the name list, Dr Sim said a cabinet committee meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Unggah Embas had taken all angles into consideration before finalising over 700 names of councillors, of whom 66 per cent were new faces.
Through the same press statement, he congratulated all the new councillors (including those who were reappointed) and sincerely thanked those whose term ended on June 30 for their service to their respective councils and community over the last 36 months.
Dr Sim further said he himself and his assistant minister would be progressively installing new councillors over the next few weeks and all the new councillors as well as council officers would be given KPI. Subsequently, he called several press members that he needed to retract the press statement.