KUCHING, Sept 21: The setting up of the Village Community Management Council (MPKK) in Sarawak will not interfere with the current setup of village or longhouse leadership such as the ketua kaum or tuairumah.
Works Minister Baru Bian said the ultimate goal of setting up MPKK in villages and longhouses was to bring in development and information from the federal government and not interfere with the leadership of the longhouse and village chief.
He said that there has been a lot of confusion on the matter and clarified that the mechanism for the setting up of MPKKs in Sarawak would not be similar to the peninsula, as it was still being worked out by the federal government.
“We want to find the best mechanism, as what is used in the peninsula may not be suitable for Sarawak. So we need to know what is best for villages in Sarawak.
“The appointment must be fair, democratic and beneficial to the people. It must not be confused and cause conflict to what has already been there.
“The ultimate goal is to bring benefit, peace and harmony to the rural areas in Sarawak,” Baru told reporters at the ‘Jelajah TVET Pembinaan’ programme at the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), here, today.
He clarified that the setting up of MPKK will not contravene the Sarawak Community Chiefs and Headmen Ordinance, and existing ketua kaum and tuairumah appointed by the state government will not be rivalled.
“The MPKKs are appointed to represent the people in the federal government, to bring in information and development programmes from the federal government. This is because we (federal government) have been hindered (in the state) all this while.
“I think it is fair and lawful. This is something that must be done as the federal government of the day,” said Baru.
According to the present appointment structure of MPKKs for Sarawak, MPKK committee were to be appointed by the Residents or District Offices.
Baru clarified that at the moment, the mechanism for appointment in Sarawak were still being worked out at the ministerial level, and would only be revealed later.
“The policy has been set. I will look into the best structure and best mechanism how to set it up for Sarawak,” he said. — DayakDaily
