KUCHING: The federal government’s initiative to appoint chairpersons of Village Community Management Council (MPKK) has been described as a “bad move”.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister cum Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he finds it strange that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak secretary Vernon Kedit does not see the consequent danger.
On Friday, Vernon defended the federal government’s plan to the appointment of MPKK chairpersons in the villages and longhouses.
Vernon said the state government led by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has been using and controlling the Ketua Masyarakat (community leaders) and Ketua Kaum (village chiefs) in delivering information and manipulating the votes of the rural community.
In response, Karim stated, “After reading through Vernon’s allegation and comment… I can only say that he does not seem to know the existing adat (custom) administrative system in Sarawak which has been practised and accepted by the people, and which has created the harmonious environment that we have in the villages, longhouses and settlements.
“It is not easy to build this harmonious setup. Anyone who wishes to introduce change to this setup must first understand and ensure that his proposal would not create disharmony, tension and anxiety to the community at large.
“It is easy to pass decrees, enactment or laws to implement changes… but if the changes threaten to split up villages and create tension among the people, I would deem it as a bad law or ruling,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted Saturday.
Karim further mentioned that at present, the village administration is managed by a “loose but workable” system called Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK). The head of the JKKK is always the Ketua Kaum and every village has a JKKK.
“The Ketua Kaum is appointed by the State Secretary Office after consultation with the District Office, village folks and elders, etc. From this, many factors are taken into consideration before a Ketua Kaum is finalised. This system has been in place for as long as I can remember and it is an accepted system which is based on consultation or muzakarah (discussion).
“On the other hand, the proposed MPKK is a modified form of JKKK which, if allowed to exist, will see a village or a longhouse have two committees — JKKK and MPKK. I could not imagine the chaos, stress and tension that would arise.
“How Vernon fails to see this puzzles me. Or does he choose not to see it from that angle?
“Does this mean that the community and the people’s unity are not important to him…as long as he can win the election?”
