Padungan rep all for election of mayors, local councillors
KUCHING: Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei has congratulated the newlyappointed mayors of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU).
Wong expressed the hope that the new mayors would work closely with Pakatan Harapan (PH) elected representatives to better serve the people.
He pointed out that his constituency spreads over into both MBKS and DBKU areas.
“Many local issues such as drainage problem, road maintenance and upgrading as well as cleanliness and hygiene matters fall under the jurisdiction of the local councils, but the people who face these various problems are turning to the elected representatives of PH rather than the local councils for solution.
“PH elected representatives do not mind helping the community solve their problems but the bottom line is that local councils are supposed to address those local issues,” he said in a statement.
Dato Wee Hong Seng and Datu Junaidi Reduan were announced as the new mayors of Kuching South and Kuching North, respectively, during a press conference by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on Thursday.
On a related matter, Wong reiterated that he was all for local council elections where the people could elect their own councillors, mayors and council chairmen, especially when Sarawak had its own Local Government Ordinance.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, he said, could have returned the rights to the people by re-introducing local council elections in Sarawak.
“Councillors and mayors, who were not elected by the people, might not serve the people efficiently but had the tendency to answer to their boss – the one who appointed them,” he argued.
He alleged that some SUPP councillors and council chairmen had gone to the ground and misled the people by pinning the blame on Democratic Action Party (DAP) elected representatives when local issues were not addressed.
He said local councils, which collected assessment rates and licensing fees from the people, should deliver services instead of shirking their duties.
“Councillors and mayors are supposed to serve the people and be on the ground at all times, and that their job is not to serve the ministers. The Housing and Local Government Ministry at the federal level had worked on the implementation of local council elections nationwide but Sarawak, which practises autonomy upon local government, did not seem to follow suit,” he claimed.
As such, he called upon Dr Sim to come up with a proposal to the State Cabinet to implement local council elections.
Wong said power in Sarawak remained so centralised that the chief minister had prerogative over a lot of matters including local government.
“This is not a healthy practice particularly given the recent appointment of an assistant minister to look after DBKU. I also wonder why Dr Sim, while singing so much about Sarawak autonomy, remained reluctant to implement local council elections for Sarawak,” he said.