Hajiji urges JKKKs to get closer to the community
TUARAN: Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) members have been urged to get closer to the community, especially the youths and household heads, whom they serve by engaging with them instead of distancing from them.
This advice came from Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hj Hajiji Hj Noor when he addressed the chairmen and secretaries of JKKK from the Sulaman state constituency here yesterday.
Hajiji, who is Sulaman assemblyman, pointed out that the way to win over the youths is by staying close to them, know their thinking and their problems.
“As JKKK members, it is part of your duty to explain government policies and current issues to the rakyat, including the youths. Take the youths for instance. The more you distance yourselves from them, the more they will be easily influenced by what they read on the social media, even if it is just rumours or half-truths,” he stressed.
On another note, Hajiji urged the JKKKs to compile detailed profiles of their villages, noting with disappointment that many have not done so.
“For example, do you know what is the population of your villages or how many houses there are? Who live in these houses? Are they locals? What is the qualification of their children? What government aid have they been receiving, if any?” he asked, adding that all these information are useful for planning and development purposes.
Meanwhile, the minister also asked JKKKs to be the 'eyes and ears' of the government in the light of the recent disclosure by the Deputy Prime Minister on possible security threat to even the west coast of Sabah.
“For example, if you come across new faces or suspicious characters in your villages, you must investigate on their purpose and if need be report to the security authorities,” he pointed out.