KUCHING: If mayors, council chairmen as well as their deputies’ who have served for more than nine years must step down, this should apply to the state assemblypersons and Members of Parliament (MPs) too.
Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan, political scientist attached to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) said the people of Sarawak deserve more than just cosmetic change.
“If 10 years is the cut-off point for council chiefs, then all state assemblypersons and MPs who have been nominated twice, should not be re-nominated for the third time or term,” he said.
Speaking to the New Sarawak Tribune, he said, changes must be comprehensive, and above all based on certain criteria and not just based on the whim and fancy of the incumbent minister to decide.
He said real change must take into account that the chairmen and members of local authorities should have the endorsement of local residents.
“Bring back the election to local authorities and let the people decide whom they want to be members of their local authorities,” he said.
Jayum, who is also the fellow of Academy of Sciences Malaysia, said that would be a comprehensive overhaul of governance.
He added that it would also represent check and balance between local authorities, state government and federal government, where the end result will benefit the people.
On Thursday, Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Penguang Manggil has confirmed that mayors, council chairmen and walikota as well as their deputies who have served for more than nine years will automatically be replaced by new faces.
This applies to all 26 local councils in Sarawak under the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry except Kuching North City Council (DBKU) and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) which are under the Premier of Sarawak’s Department.
Penguang said the tenure of existing heads of councils will expire on March 31, 2023 and the newly appointed ones will be sworn in early April.
Meanwhile, political analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania described the limit as ‘a very good move’.
“A period of 10 years is really long enough (for council chief or elected representatives), thus, if this can apply to the Aduns and MPs, it will definitely be better,” he added.
