Sempurai (second left) chairs the full council meeting. Also seen are (from left) SRDC secretary Justani Joni, deputy chairman Robert Lau and councillor Teo Boon Siew.
SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) is embarking on a digital platform to increase its capacity in monitoring, servicing and administration, says its chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai.
He pointed out that this initiative is the council’s effort in becoming a people-centric local authority.
“This digital platform means using apps such as WhatsApp, Sarawak Pay and others to monitor the council’s contractors and services,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday when contacted on SRDC’s recent full council meeting.
He said the council is also looking into an app called ‘Nemosis’, which is currently being used at the Sarikei District Council (SDC).
“SRDC will get an officer from SDC to brief us on this app and we will use it properly by the middle of next year or even earlier.”
Sempurai said the decision to use this app came about during the council’s retreat to review the Balance Scorecard and strategic planning in Mukah last month.
Apart from that, he also noted that SRDC had revisited and reviewed its strategic planning for the next five years from 2020 to 2025.
“This time around, the strategic planning is achievable and realistic enough to bring SRDC to the digital era.”
He pointed out that through strategic planning and review of balance scorecard, the council will overcome the weaknesses and challenges in the five-year plan.
“The motto initiated by State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion namely ‘Service, Service, Service’ for local authorities will serve as the foundation to strive ahead into next year 2020.”
“Community engagement is part of the initiative to get people’s involvement in the council’s programmes, services and projects under our purview.
“We cannot be complacent with our achievements as the need for services of the people under SRDC’s jurisdiction is increasing due to the rapid development of areas such as Sibu Jaya, Kemunyang, Selangau and west banks.”
He said the demand for the maintenance of infrastructures such as roads, jetties, bridge and others under SRDC’s purview have also increased, thus necessitating for the council to be prudent in the distribution of the grants to all the areas.
“A lot needs to be done. With minimum resources, SRDC has successfully achieved the Excellent Accountability Index report for 2018.
“This achievement has driven SRDC to further improve our management to ensure the quality of administration and services will be maintained,” he said.