Not necessary to have institute on urban governance yet — Penguang

SIBU: There are far too many new institutions currently being formed, with many having overlapping functions, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil opined yesterday.

He gave the opinion when asked to comment on social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye’s suggestion for the setting-up of a government-funded Institute for Urban Governance, Training and Management to serve the needs for better urban management and governance in cities and towns.

Lee had said the proposed institute could also provide support and policy advice to the government in urban governance, development and management.

On this, Penguang said: “When we talk about urban development we are also talking about the provision of municipal services, infrastructure, provision of housing, town planning and perhaps environmental planning and management.

“At the moment, I don’t see the need to set up such an institution in Sarawak yet. We can ride on the existing institutions such as public and private universities, our very own existing training centres and even private institutions like Chemsains and others.”

The Marudi assemblyman reasoned that many such courses are taught either at public institutions of higher learning, existing government institutes or private establishments.

Lee pointed out recently that although there are about 150 local governments in the country, there was no strong central training institute to cater for their manpower requirements to meet their diverse functions of urban management.

“In the light of what has been revealed, it may be timely to set up a government-funded Institute for Urban Governance, Training and Management to serve the needs for better urban management and governance in our cities and towns as a result of rapid urbanisation,” he said.