BETONG: The formation of the village community management council (MPKK) by the Pakaran Harapan (PH) government is a serious affront to the credibility of longhouse chiefs, Ketua Kampungs and Kapitans.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said it basically shows Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and other PH leaders have no confidence in the ability of the community leaders to serve although they all have been elected by their respective followers.
Uggah, who is Bukit Saban assemblyman, said this when speaking at a dialogue session with more than 200 community leaders from his constituency at Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan Hall, Betong.
“MPKK committee members are political appointees. The existence of two leadership groups at each longhouse, village and settlement is bound to cause friction over policies and political differences.
“Ultimately this will lead to quarrel, disunity and disharmony,” he pointed out.
In the end, instead of going forward, Uggah said, the people would be worse off than before.
“So my advice is since we already have the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK), there is no need for MPKK.
“The state government will continue to recognise the signatures of all community leaders,” he assured.
Uggah said the people should not be taken in by the argument that rejecting the formation of MPKK, they would be deprived of RM10,000 annual development fund for each longhouse, village or settlement.
“We believe the amount is unfair as we have longhouses which are over 100 doors and there are those with less than 15 doors and there are villages with 80 houses.
“I am wondering how the amount is going to be fairly shared? By the same token each Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) elected representative has RM5 million in Rural Transformation Programme fund for development besides the minor rural development fund,” he pointed out.
He assured that it has been and will always be the GPS government’s policy to bring more development and progress to the people in the effort to upgrade their standard of living.
Uggah also took to task Saratok MP Ali Biju who said the formation of MPKK should be carried out as the GPS government had prevented community leaders from attending all PH elected representatives’ functions in their respective areas.
“When his functions are well attended by them, he chooses to keep quiet. But then he keeps on harping that they are so prevented,” he added.
