KUCHING, Aug 3: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) National Women vice chief Voon Shiak Ni has reminded the Sarawak government that local councillors were appointed to serve the people and not to be used as a political tool.
She expressed great concern over the statement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in urging all local councillors to prepare themselves for an election war against Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“Councillors are meant to serve your party GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or the people?,” she questioned and urged Abang Johari to make clarrification on this matter.
“Local councilors are meant to serve the people and not to be used as a political tool for any political party. Furthermore, it is against the election rules and regulations,” she emphasised in a press release today.
Voon thus echoed the statement by Bersih Sarawak chairperson Ann Teo on re-instating local council election to encourage and increase citizen’s participation in local governance which will in turn give Sarawakians a voice on local issues affecting them on the ground.
“Local council election is meant to empower the people at the grassroots level and let the people choose and appoint their leader. It is absurd for the Abang Johari to put the proposal as ‘taking over’ the state government,” she said.
“The practice of political appointments of councillors for the past many years is not healthy at all. It is demonstrated by the Chief Minister’s statement in calling all councillors to rally behind him against the federal government,” she added.
In a democratic society, Voon reminded the Sarawak government that people were to be given the duty to elect their representatives.
“Similarly, the local government should be free from any political affiliation or to be controlled by any political party,” she pointed out.
She shared that the local council election was last held in 1963 and was supposed to be temporarily suspended in 1964 and 1965 due to the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation which conflict took place mainly on the island of Borneo.
“But the local council election was later abolished by the passing of the Local Government Act 1976,” she added.
Abang Johari had recently told PH that the GPS is ready for an all-out ‘war’ in the coming state election.
He was quoted as saying “If they want war, then we will go all out to face them” before 750 councillors of local government during a swearing-in ceremony before the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
He urged councillors, since they are the grassroots leaders, to prepare themselves for the war with PH.— DayakDaily
