LUNDU, April 5: District council services need to be constantly improved and upgraded while development plans for local areas should take into account environmental and sustainability factors.
In giving this reminder, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil emphasised that this is in response to the call by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and in line with Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“This includes when making development plans for local areas that need to also take climate change factors into account.
“In PCDS 2030, among the three important aspects emphasised is the green economy where digitalisation is one of the ways to transform business, covering all sectors and environmental sustainability, especially in waste management,” he said in a news report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) today.
Dr Penguang highlighted this when witnessing the swearing-in of Lundu District Council members for the 2023-2025 term at the Lundu community hall today.
On the councillors’ appointment, he pointed out that councillors play a very important role as the link between the government and the community.
“If a councillor fails to carry out his or her responsibility, it will reflect on the current government and also at the community level which has high expectations.
“The appointment of council members was approved by the cabinet with the consent of Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, and according to the specific quota,” he said.
Based on the decision of the Sarawak cabinet, he added, the government has decided to allow a council member to serve for a maximum of nine years.
Dr Penguang also congratulated Lundu District Council for obtaining four stars in the Star Rating System with a score of 88.47 per cent and for ranking 102 out of 152 local authorities in Malaysia.
“Maintain and if possible improve your performance by thinking outside the box and being more creative because this is also an encouragement for me to continue to carry out transformation at the local authority level,” he said.
Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony today witnessed 31 councillors including the Lundu District Council chairman take oath of office for the term 2023-2025.
Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang and Tanjong Datu assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan were among those present. — DayakDaily
