Raising quality of local authorities with new image

KUALA LUMPUR: The role and image of local authorities will be enhanced to raise their quality and government management efficiency.

Housing and Local Government Minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin said the time had come for the government to uplift the standard of services of the local authorities as these bodies were important in any government administration.

“It’s time we give the local authorities that recognition as the success of their administration and government policies depends on their efficiency in carrying out their enforcement duties.

“Therefore, we need to enhance their role by giving them a new image, hence erasing the negative perception towards the local authorities.

“Their uniforms will also be standardised nationwide soon in line with their tasks,” Zuraida told reporters after opening the Local Authorities Convention 2018 here yesterday.

Also present were Amalgamated National Union Local Authorities Employees (ANULAE) president Datuk Azih Muda and Kuala Lumpur mayor, Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahalan.

The two- day convention from yesterday themed, ‘Challenges of the Local Authorities in the 21st Century’, involves participants from 154 local authorities in Peninsular Malaysia.

Zuraida said the government would at the same time, ensure that the policy at the community level could be enhanced so that the public would understand better the role and functions of the local authorities and not take their enforcement lightly.

Asked on the possibility of local authority elections be held earlier, Zuraida said the synergy and understanding between the public and local authorities should be improved first.

“To hold these elections, there needs to be real understanding between the people and the local authorities first, and as I’ve said before the government should be ready towards this in three years.

“I see in countries that hold local authority elections, the quality of enforcement and level of knowledge on policies is very high, hence the policy implementation is good, and we should work towards this,” she said. — Bernama