Constituents asked to work together with elected reps
MARUDI: The constituents of Marudi, especially community leaders, have been asked to work together with their elected representative and not any other person.
Making the call was Marudi assemblyman Datu Dr Penguang Mangii, who is Assistant Minister for Local Government, when addressing the constituents at a YSS-Asean programme at Rumah Buddy Ayai, Sg Selepin Tengah, Bakong in Beluru recently.
He related that some community leaders failed to inform him of the problems and needs of their longhouse, making it hard for him to help the residents.
As an example, he said he was never informed by the Tuai Rumah of a complaint by the headmaster of SK Sg Kelabit that the road to the school was in a bad condition until the headmaster called him personally.
Besides that, he also told them to support and cooperate with the government of the day for the greater development of the constituency.
On the election of Tuai Rumah ( longhouse chiefs), he said it is based on a set criteria.
He said a candidate must be well-liked by the people, elected by the people and not appointed, unlike what was practised in Marudi previously.
He cited a case in Bakong area, which is under Marudi constituency, where a longhouse has two Tuai Rumah – one elected by the people and the other appointed by an individual.
To address the issue, he said he would propose for an election and the one who gets the majority votes would be the Tuai Rumah.
Even if a person is recommended by the district officer or Resident, if he is found not suitable he would not be considered, Penguang stressed.
However, the scenario is different for the Orang Ulu community because they have the ‘Maran’ leadership hierarchy, he pointed out.
Present were YSS chairperson Datuk Zuraidah Atan, members of its board of directors, district officer Mataib Sayu and Marudi District Council chairman Edward Mendai.