Datu Dr Penguang Manggil
KUCHING: The Ministry of Local Government is willing to revert to the previous practice of including representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in local councils, its assistant minister Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said.
Acknowledging that some local councils do not have NGO representation, he explained that it was due to urgency and lack of time.
“There are still NGO representations in some local councils but not all,” Penguang told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Penguang, who is former Permanent Secretary to the Local Government Ministry, agreed that it is a good idea to have representatives of NGOs or prominent persons in local councils.
“NGO and outstanding individual representation within local councils is a good idea. Their presence is to provide check and balance within local councils with the freedom to give their inputs, unlike other councillors who are politically appointed and may have some political inclinations.
“The practice of including NGO and individual representation allows people from outside the system to give inputs. It was started when I was the Permanent Secretary (of Local Government),” said Penguang.
Since it was a good idea, he did not discount the possibility of reviving the practice after the present term of councillors ends.
The previous term was to have expired end of 2015 but as the state election was around the corner, the councillors’ services were extended until June 30.
And with the state election held on May 7, the new Local Government Ministry was pressed for time to come up with a new list of councillors.
On NGO representation in local councils, former Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh when contacted explained that the number of councillors was expanded during the previous term.
“The former Chief Minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Penguang and I came out with the idea that there should be NGOs represented in the local councils.
“So we expanded the number of local councillors from 25 to 30, where the additional five councillors were to come from NGOs or individuals without party affiliation.
“The purpose of doing so was to deliver quality community services to the people and widen representation within the local councils which before that was confined to representatives from political parties,” said Wong, who is Second Finance Minister.
Following that decision, since 2013 all 24 local councils under the Local Government Ministry had 30 councillors each – 120 of them representatives of NGOs and individuals.
Both Penguang and Wong were responding to the disappointment expressed by community leaders that the present line-up of councillors for all local councils did not include representatives from NGOs.
Among the community leaders who brought the matter up was Richard Wee, president of Federation of Chinese Associations, Kuching and Samarahan Divisions.
“From my understanding, previously each council had only 25 councillors. Then the number was increased to 30. The additional five councillors were created to include representatives from NGOs.
“Now it seems that the additional five posts designated for NGOs are all given to the political parties. To me, this is disappointing,” said Richard.
Acknowledging that appointment of councillors is the prerogative of the government, he however said it is not fair to give the five additional seats to political parties.
“Local councils are taking care of matters related to grassroots, and NGO representatives in the local government can help to reflect problems faced by the people,” stressed Richard.
Meanwhile, Commission member of Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Dato Wee Hong Seng is of the opinion that there should be no disagreement on the new list of councillors as it has gone through due procedures with the names approved.
“Yes, local councils are platforms to serve. However, for a person who has a genuine heart to serve, there is always a platform to speak up,” said Hong Seng.