‘My advice is to stick to what we have, which has been proven to work very well. Since we formed Malaysia, this has been the structure and mechanism that we have adopted.’
While the Village Community Management Council (MPKK) has been described as a way for the federal government to reach out to rural folk in Sarawak, state leaders remain wary of potential underlying intentions.
Among their primary concerns if this new system is implemented are fissures in community harmony and the gradual loss of Sarawak’s autonomy.
The appointment of MPKK in Sarawak by the federal government was earlier announced on September 16 by Rural Development Deputy Minister Sivarasa Rasiah, immediately resulting in much resistance and uproar from various state leaders and local groups.
Those who objected pointed out that there is already a system currently in place — the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK).
Nevertheless, the federal government is pushing on with its plans.
According to Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, an estimated 5,900 representatives have been listed for the entire state pending approval by the Ministry of Rural Development. These are anticipated to be announced in November.
It has also been reported that this system is expected to be established in Sarawak by January next year.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil shares his views on the issue with TANIA LAM in an exclusive interview with New Sarawak Tribune (NST) and its sister paper Suara Sarawak (SS). Among others, Penguang says Sarawak should stick to the existing system which the people are already familiar with.
NST & SS: What do you think is the real motive behind the establishment of MPKK? Do you think the federal government has ulterior motives?
Penguang: Definitely. They said that they want this MPKK to serve as a link, as a bridge, between the government and people.
That does not seem logical because we have so many federal government departments and agencies here — why create another mechanism? You can go through all these channels.
Perhaps this is one of their mechanisms whereby they would be able to encroach into the rural areas for their own political agenda.
The establishment of MPKK started way back when the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem was still Sarawak chief minister. At that time, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (the former urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister) came over to Sarawak to convince our former chief minister to implement MPKK.
He had said that MPKK was not implemented in Sabah. So Pehin Sri Adenan asked him, “Why are you asking us when you have not implemented this in Sabah?”
Then, he had also said we are happy with the existing structure and mechanism of this JKKK and it works very well. So why introduce another one?
Is this going to be a political tool for the PH government?
More than just political. It is a step forward in trying to colonise us. They have not conquered Sarawak and yet they want to introduce this system here. What more to say if they take control of us?
By creating this MPKK, they are creating another faction of the longhouse. We already have a ‘tuai rumah’, then they put this group here. Isn’t it true that they will have conflicts later on?
Of course, if they can implement this, they will have the upper hand, so to say, because they are the government of the day.
Now, once they can get hold of this ‘tuai rumah’ later on, which I think will not be that easy, then what is the next step?
So the repercussions are very severe. Apart from conflicts, what other negative effects would there be towards the local people?
You can see from the current situation in some longhouses — if the people do not agree with the ‘tuai rumah’, it can even go to the extent of splitting. I have seen, for instance, one longhouse split into eight or nine longhouses — just imagine.
Now with this MPKK coming in, I presume this is what we call the ‘divide and conquer’ sort of strategy by PH to split the rural folks.
Is this one of the strategies by PH to win the hearts and minds of people who are against the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government?
I think so, yes. They are running out of other issues. But if we are truly Sarawakians with the concept of ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’, we should not give their offers any consideration at all.
They have made so many promises before, yet unfulfilled, and now they want to make other promises?
Is there foul play on the part of the PH government?
They will do all kinds of things to win — they would even lie to win the election.
Can the state government stop the federal government from implementing MPKK?
Whatever they want to introduce has to be endorsed at least by the state Cabinet or the State Legislative Assembly — that is the procedure all the while.
If they do bulldoze through, then we will have to resort to other means, including legal procedures.
If you look at the Constitution, this particular issue is not listed under federal. Therefore, we strongly believe that this is the residual power of the state. Not only for Sarawak, but for all the states of Peninsular Malaysia as well.
It has been recently reported that some ‘tuai rumah’ and ‘ketua masyarakat’ have protested the implementation of MPKK. Why do you think they are doing so?
We already have an existing system that works quite well. Why introduce another system which we are not sure can function or not?
The other thing is that it also encroaches into our customs and traditions here in Sarawak, including the Ibans and particularly the Orang Ulu.
It is not just that we do not want to implement this per se, but it is because of the negative implications it will bring. MPKK will split the people even more, which is not good for the racial harmony, peace, and stability that we are used to enjoying all this while.
PH is dangling the carrot of RM500 for MPKK chairman, RM300 for MPKK secretary, and RM50 for meeting allowance. Moreover, they are offering a grant of RM10,000. What is your comment on this?
My advice to the people is to look beyond just the money. Our future is more important than this allowance.
Furthermore, if you read the circular properly, that RM10,000 offered by them is not automatic. There are conditions attached to it, it is not a simple ‘we will give you RM10,000’.
Also in my MRP fund (minor rural project fund), I never gave them less than RM10,000 anyway for the longhouse. That is MRP, then there is also my RTP (rural transformation programme) and my PPRT (housing programme for hardcore poor).
One of the justifications put forward by Chong Chieng Jen is that they want to form MPKK because the state government is not giving them cooperation. He claimed that ‘tuai rumah’ and ‘ketua kampung’ are not allowed to attend functions organised by the PH government, as per a circular.
If he reads through that circular thoroughly, he will see that is not true. There are some conditions there. They can attend functions if they are conducted by the ministry or federal department.
But if it is organised by an individual for political reasons, for example an assemblyperson or MP of PH, then by logic they should not.
It was reported that Chong believed that the rural dwellers were glad to accept the establishment of MPKK as they felt many initiatives of the central government did not reach them. What is your comment on this?
I do not think that is true. For instance, in my area, just before the last election, the deputy prime minister gave us RM4 million for PPRT. When the new government took over, they withdrew it. So who is the one who ‘did not reach’ the people?
He has to clarify the statement.
Some former ‘tuai rumah’ are not happy because they were not appointed. What is the reason behind this?
We have our guidelines — any longhouse with less than 20 doors, we cannot elect them as ‘tuai rumah’.
However, we still do give them grants through the JKKK. We still ask them to register with JKKK at the district office. They can open an account and we can still channel our MRP and RTP to this particular kampung — it’s just that the ‘tuai rumah’ is not formally appointed.
In the context of the initiative taken by PH to introduce this MPKK, in what way is JKKK still relevant?
JKKK is still very relevant. Any custom in the longhouse, such as a marriage, I do not think MPKK has the mandate or institution to be referred to.
So they still have to fall back on the JKKK and the existing KMKK (Ketua Masyarakat and Ketua Kaum) system that we have.
Explain a bit about the roles of JKKK.
In JKKK, they have the ‘tuai rumah’, who is the chairman. They have different bureaus which cover various areas such as the youth, security, and safety.
The effectiveness and efficiency depend very much on the headman himself — the ‘ketua kaum’. If he is very visionary, you can see the difference. They are very forward-thinking and innovative in what they do.
That is why some of the longhouses to me are even better than some urban homes in terms of cleanliness and the compound.
The guidelines are there, as well as the roles and functions of every bureau. They must function to the fullest based on these guidelines.
Another very important role of JKKK is to preserve our culture and tradition.
In what way can JKKK help to realise the vision of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg?
They have to be forward-thinking and cooperate with the government of the day as the eyes and ears of the people on the ground, and vice versa.
At the same time, this KMKK should also disseminate policies and information from the government to the people on the ground.
That would also help the YBs to plan their development strategies, especially in rural areas.
What is the way forward?
If we think our present system has flaws, then we can always improve upon it. Why go to the extent of setting another institution in the same longhouse?
So, by all means we have to stop MPKK from coming into Sarawak?
I personally feel that should be the way. By whatever means, otherwise we will be in deep trouble.
Not just politically but also in terms of peace and unity of the people on the ground. That is extremely important because our strength relies on them.
So, a lot is at stake here?
Indeed.
What is your advice to the people on the ground, the ‘tuai rumah’ and KMKK, in the context of MPKK?
My advice is to stick to what we have, which has been proven to work very well. Since we formed Malaysia, this has been the structure and mechanism that we have adopted.
Do not be easily lured by the RM10,000 or by the allowances. Our future is more important than just receiving this allowance of RM500, RM300, and so on. That is more for yourself — but what about the ‘rakyat’?
Moreover, our racial harmony is extremely important. The peace and religious tolerance, racial harmony, and unity for which Sarawak is so well-known for — we should be proud to preserve that.
Photos: GHAZALI BUJANG
