(Seated, from second left) Lau, Hee Seng, Soon Koh, Hii, Awang Yusuf with the community leaders after the presentation ceremony.
SIBU: Community leaders are expected to respond positively to people’s requests for help, Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said yesterday when presenting appointment letters to 22 newly-appointed or re-appointed community leaders.
He told the community leaders to take their appointment as a great honour and something they should treasure.
“Once you have decided to accept the appointment, you must be prepared to serve your community with commitment, dedication and total involvement,” he advised them.
Wong also expected all community leaders to work closely with the local authorities.
He said there were bound to be some thorny issues they might find difficult to handle.
“Try your best, and if need be, get help from the government departments or agencies,” Also at the present at the ceremony held at the Resident’s Office here were Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau Lee Ming, Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee, his deputy Wong Hee Seng and District Officer Awang Yusuf Awang Mustapha.
Lau, who also spoke, said a booklet showing the contacts and information of the community leaders would soon be ready for distribution to the people.
He said the booklet would let the people know who the community leaders were in their respectively areas.
The paramount leader of the Chinese community expected his fellow community leaders to be responsive to the complaints from the public, and do their best to address them.
“Be smart and intelligent enough to discern what is right and what is wrong.
“Keep your community in formed and updated on government policies and so on,” he said.