Rep reminds community leaders of heavy responsibilities
MIRI: Community leaders are reminded that their appointments or reappointments come with heavy responsibilities.
Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting said as government appointees, they must serve as the eyes and ears of the government.
“In addition to being the eyes and ears of the government, community leaders are the people’s mouth piece and vice versa. Thus community leaders too need to serve as government machinery to further enlighten the people under their care, of the various government policies and visions,” said Ting when presenting reappointment letters to six community leaders here yesterday.
The six community leaders were Penghulu Samad Alip @ Laip, Kapitan Goh Eng Ban (Piasau) and KKJuihKariyou@MohamadJaafar Abdullah ( Kpg Wireless) - from Piasau constituency, KK Usman Suleiman @ Othman Suleiman (Kpg Pujut Tanjung Batu), Kapitan Pui Chiew Thart (Krokop Baru) and KK Abdulah Yusop @ Yusuf –from Pujut constituency.
Among those present at the function held at the Resident Office, were Miri Resident, Sherrina Hussaini, Mayor Adam Yii, district officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf, Temenggong Abdul Rahman Fadzil.and Temenggong Dato Sri Lee Sie Tong.
Samad and KK Usman when interviewed later thanked the government for the reappointment and the trust given to them to continue discharging their duties.
‘A big thank you to the government for the trust although I am old now reaching 75 years. I pledge to do my best to serve the government and the people.
“Community service has also been in my blood and before this I was a very active member of Saberkas and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu – PBB,” said Samad whose term has been extended to 31 December 2019. He has been Penghulu for seven years, overseeing 10 villages in Miri and Taman Tunku areas.
He hoped that the government will continue to conduct more courses like internet and effective village management, for community leaders, so that they will be well equipped in discharging their duties especially in this digital era.
Usman concurred with Samad adding that “several other community leaders have attended courses on internet and I haven’t and I would love to attend one and other relevant courses so that I keep myself abreast with current happenings and grievances voiced by the people including in the social media.”
Usman, 67 has been village headman for Kpg Pujut Tanjong Batu for 16 years and during the course of his duties among the major issues faced were frequent flooding and poor drainage.
He thanked the government for solving the problems by taking various measures to mitigate flood and also providing infrastructure for the wellbeing of the people.