‘Appointment of community leaders by way of election not established standard practice of Sarawak govt’

THE appointment of community leaders by way of an election is not an established standard practice of the Sarawak government.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the cohesion among the community is the best way to maintain harmony in Sarawak’s multiracial society.

“Therefore, community leaders are appointed through the KMKK ( Ketua Masyarakat, Ketua Kaum) Divisional Selection Committee chaired by the respective divisional resident,” he said in his ministerial winding- up speech yesterday.

He also said community leaders could attend any programme or function as long as they are official functions of the state.

On a related matter, he said it’s compulsory for candidates wanting to become community leaders to pass security screening.

Delay in the appointment of community leaders did happen because it involved meticulous security screening by the authority, which would take time, he said,

However, the government, with the police, would take necessary steps to expedite the process.

Meanwhile, he said the government had decided that the extension or termination of community leaders’ service to be processed six months before their services expired.

He also said the government would consider creating new posts for community and ‘ ketua kaum’ based on current need and detailed justification from Resident and district offices.