SIBU: Central Sarawak is not swarmed with community leaders.
Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said this on Thursday after 59 new kapitans received their appointment letters on Thursday.
Reporters had asked him about the appointment of kapitans in such a big number.
Wong, who is also the Second Finance Minister and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said many of the kapitans were being appointed to replace the existing ones who had passed the mandatory age of service at 70 set by the government.
He said many of them had passed the age limit but the government had retained them due to their good service.
“Of the 59, 20 were appointed to replace aging kapitans. This included the replacement of three who have died and another three who are occupied with personal matters,” Wong said.
He said another two kapitans were reappointed because their service had been extended, adding that of the 22 aging kapitans, 11 were between 71 and 74, eight were 75 to 79 and three were above 80.
Wong called on the people to work with the newly appointed kapitans towards community building.
He said these leaders would act as bridge between the people and the government to help build Sarawak.
For the remainder, he said they were being appointed as longhouse chieftains.
Wong thanked the community leaders who were stepping down for their dedicated service.