KUCHING, Sept 22: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government has just recently agreed that it would not change Sarawak’s Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) to the newly introduced Village Community Management Council (MPKK).
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said when the federal government decided to change the name of the JKKK to MPKK, the state government presented to it that the name of JKKK be maintained in the State.
He said the federal government had agreed and gave its consent and thus it would not change JKKK to MPKK.
As the federal government had also agreed not to introduce or form the MPKK in the state, Uggah said therefore in Sarawak, the JKKK has been retained.
“The federal government too concurred with our view that another body would only serve to confuse and divide the people.
“At the same time, the federal government has also decided to reduce the allowance of the JKKK to (from RM900 to) RM500. It has been remitting the allowance payment to the state government without fail,” Uggah clarified in a statement.
Uggah said the federal government recognises that in Sarawak, the chairman of the respective JKKK would be from the Ketua Kaum or community leaders, namely the Tuai Rumah, Ketua Kampung and the Kapitan.
Subsequently, the state government decided to top up their allowances with another RM400 because formerly, the Ketua Kaum had been receiving RM900 per person per month.Uggah was responding to statements made by Works Minister Baru Bian, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen and Krian MP Ali Biju who were all advocating the setting up of MPKK in villages and longhouses in the state.
“I wish to put it on record here that the Sarawak government has yet to be formally informed of any proposal to change the JKKK to MPKK except for the media statements by the three ‘Yang Berhormat’.
“Currently, the JKKK has shown itself to be an efficient grassroot machinery in the state, especially in acting as a bridge between the people and the government.
“So in essence, there is no need to have an alternative body to be set up alongside the JKKK. This will only lead to confusion and will definitely divide the people,” said Uggah. — DayakDaily
