GPS will protect state’s administrative system

Abang Johari (fourth left) presents an appointment letter to one of the appointed community leaders while (from left) Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Welfare and Community Wellbeing Assistant Minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis and International Trade and Industry, Industry Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Assistant Minister Datuk Malcom Mussen Lamoh look on during Leaders with Community ceremony at Seri Simanggang hotel, Sri Aman. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

SIMANGGANG: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government will ensure that the native administrative system in the state is maintained, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said the positions of community leaders such as Tuai Rumah and Temenggong existed in the state’s administrative system since the time of the Brookes.

These leaders, he added, played an important role as middlemen for the government to channel information from the government to the people.

“We (in Sarawak) have our own structure of administrative system with the first leader being the Temenggong, followed by the Pemanca, Penghulu, Ketua Kaum and Ketua Kampung.

“The other states in Malaya don’t have Temenggong or Pemanca. They only have Penghulu and Ketua Mukim.

“Suddenly, they want us to follow their administrative system. No way! We are Sarawakians, we have our own tradition,” said the chief minister when speaking at ‘Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat’ (Leaders with Community Ceremony) at Hotel Seri Simanggang here on Monday (Aug 31).

Abang Johari was referring to the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government which insisted on setting up the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP) in the state.

If it had been pursued, the council would overlap with an existing local administrative system — the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs).

Abang Johari lamented the PH government’s move when it could not even afford pay allowances to all leaders under the state’s complex administrative system.

“It wanted to establish a new system but could it afford the allowances? Even a bridge project … it cancelled,” he said.

Abang Johari advised the grassroot leaders to remain united and to play their part in taking care of their respective areas.

He said they must also be able to identify the local residents to help contain the spread of Covid-19 and help the authorities prevent the entry of illegal foreigners through rat trails.

Before he ended his speech, Abang Johari reminded the leaders that “only Sarawakians know best how to take care of Sarawak”.

At the event, he also presented letters of appointment to seven new community leaders and 35 new village chiefs.