Council appointments should not be made an issue — Uda
PUTATAN: Assistant Law and Native Affairs Minister Datuk Uda Sulai said he found it strange that Tanjung Aru assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong is making an issue out of the appointment of the Putatan District Council members.
“There should be no issue,” he told reporters here following the appointment of 18 council members at the Pan Borneo Hotel.
He said that this was because both he and Junz were under Sabah Warisan Party and also because the duration of the appointment is only for two years.
“Who doesn’t or cannot perform, we can terminate,” he said.
He also said that he had submitted 18 names in his list to the Local Government and Housing Ministry, for its consideration two months ago. Those from his list held various professional positions such as engineers, lawyers, accountant, a doctor and an auditor. Out of the 18 appointed, two were from Junz’s list.
“Those are people I thought would be suited for consideration to hold the position… and some are from PKR and Warisan,” he said.
He also explained that he had no power to decide who would be appointed eventually, because the final decision was up to the Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong.
Uda also expressed his disappointment with Junz’s claim that he deliberately chose members from his own list.
“How can it be deliberate? He should be aware when (the time) he should forward the list of names he wanted to be considered by the ministry for its consideration. He doesn’t submit (the list) to me, but to the ministry,” he explained.
He also said that he believed Junz was late in submitting the names.
He added that nevertheless, two of Junz’s selection were included in the council’s appointment list.
“I have asked the Local Government and Housing ministry to consider adding four more members into the council,” he said. The additional four are believed to accommodate Junz’s list.
Earlier in his speech, Uda explained that this required some procedural measures and that some instruments must be approved by the district council before it is submitted to the State Government.
He also hoped that the new appointments would be able to provide the best services to the people of Putatan.
At the same time, Uda also wants a hotline to be established at the Putatan District Council so that members of the public are able to air their grievances.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Ministry’s permanent secretary, Masnah Matsalleh said the Putatan District Council was only able to collect 22 per cent of its daily collection between Jan and July of this year.
She said that a workshop would be conducted to find out the reasons behind the collection failure.
She also said that it was important for the council to collect all that was due to it so it can provide its service to the people of Putatan effectively.
Also present at the event were Putatan MP, Awang Husani Datuk Sahari and Putatan District Council chairman, Hassan Mahali who is also the district officer.