Councillors list ‘waiting for TYT endorsement’
KUCHING: The list of councillors has been approved by the chief minister but is now awaiting the endorsement by the Head of State, says a source familiar with the matter.
The source disclosed that the list has been tabled to the Cabinet Committee chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and was agreed by all the component parties except SUPP and UPP.
“There has been a delay on the appointment of the councillors due mainly to SUPP-UPP internal matters. But as far as I am aware, the issue has been resolved ( between the two parties). So now it’s a matter of time for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri to endorse the new list, which will be announced by the Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian,” the source told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
However, The Borneo Post learnt from another reliable source that UPP did not agree with the list as its president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who also sits in the Cabinet Committee, is now on sick leave.
When contacted, Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang said he like Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King as reported in the media has not received his appointment letter.
“The list of new councillors is
The list of new councillors is normally handled by the council secretary. But I believe the list will be ready soon as we are expected to have our full council meeting next week. Nevertheless, even if the new batch of councillors are not announced yet, we will continue with the present administration of the council as usual.
normally handled by the council secretary. But I believe the list will be ready soon as we are expected to have our full council meeting next week.
“Nevertheless, even if the new batch of councillors are not announced yet, we will continue with the present administration of the council as stressed the Batu assemblyman.
Similarly, Kuching South City Council ( MBKS) mayor Dato James Chan said he was not aware of the new list of MBKS councillors.
“As far as I am concerned, we usual,” Kitang will continue to provide quality service to the people as pledged by the government, while waiting for the new batch of councillors who would be helping to administer the council,” assured Chan.
When contacted, however, the office of the Head of State declined to comment on the matter.
Last Tuesday, Dr Sim had said in a press statement that the list of councillors had been approved by the Cabinet and that 66 per cent of the over 700 councillors for the 24 local councils in Sarawak would be new faces.
Meanwhile, according to another reliable source, the process of appointing chairmen, deputy chairmen as well as councillors involved a few steps.
The source said the ministry must first make recommendations to the cabinet committee after which the cabinet committee will propose the names to the cabinet. Once the cabinet approves the list, it will be submitted to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri for endorsement, after which it will be gazetted and later made public, he added.
“Usually the list of local council chairmen, deputy chairmen as well as councillors submitted to the Head of State is a complete list, and not a partial one,” said the source.
He was thus quite puzzled by the partial list which was released on Tuesday and questioned if the list was actually endorsed by the TYT.
Lo Khere Chiang, Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman