‘Involve related parties in planning of devt projects’
KANOWIT: Local councils, being the front-liners of the government, have been told to involve local community leaders, elected representatives, district officers and councillors when planning development projects in their jurisdictions.
Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said this is to avoid such projects, when completed, from not being utilised by the people or target groups because they did not meet their expectations.
“Anything that local councils are able or unable to do will reflect on the government machinery.
“If the local councils fail to do their duty, the government is also perceived to have failed in its commitment to help the people,” he said when officiating at Kanowit District Council (KDC) Customers’ Day at Rajang Riverfront here yesterday.
He said the role of local councils can be summed up into five of its main services - drain clearing, garbage collection, road upgrading, grass cutting and matters related to business premises.
“If local councils are not committed in carrying out these services, for example to clear blocked drains or to repair damaged roads, it will cause problems to the people,” he pointed out.
Dr Penguang also told the local councils to prioritise the local community because without them, the councils would not be able to fulfill their roles. On the same matter, he said community leaders and councillors are the eyes and ears of the government and act as a bridge between the people and the government.
Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang and KDC secretary Anthony Luta were present.