NGO makes the push for non-political councillors in Johor

JOHOR BARU: A nongovernmental organisation, Engage, has suggested that each of the local councils in the state should appoint four nonpolitical councillors comprising those from civil society or members of the public.

Engage chairman Thomas Fann said the four appointments should be made at all councils statewide.

There are some 360 vacancies for councillors in 15 local councils in Johor.

This would be in keeping with Pakatan Harapan’s promises in its election manifesto where it will be giving civil society a place to engage directly with the council, he added.

“We also call on the Pakatan government to make the local councils budget publicly available to taxpayers,” he said, adding that they also hoped that the city halls would be open for public hearing sessions.

He hoped that full board meetings of the council would also be accessible to the public.

Taxpayers who pay assessment rates should also have the right to know how the councils were utilising their tax revenues, he added.

Fann said that such moves would demonstrate Pakatan’s commitment to eventually hold local government elections and that it was prepared to be transparent and accountable to the rakyat.

The Star had reported that all full council meetings in Johor would now be open to the public.

Local Government, Science and Technology committee chairman Tan Hong Pin hoped that the councils would also be proactive and broadcast their meetings via Facebook live or on social media.