Penang DCM I to propose elections for village panels
Susan LoonePublished: Jun 25, 2013 7:01 AM | Updated: Jun 25, 2013 7:04 AM
INTERVIEW Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon said he would raise the issue of direct elections for the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK or Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung) in the state executive council to promote local democracy.
INTERVIEW Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon said he would raise the issue of direct elections for the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK or Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung) in the state executive council to promote local democracy.
Rashid said the issue has not cropped up before as the appointment for JKKKs are based on political appointees from Pakatan Rakyat’s three component parties - DAP, PAS and PKR - as it had been done previously under Barisan Nasional.
“There is a fixed quota from the three parties and we have been holding to this agreement to fill up the positions,” Rashid said in an interview with Malaysiakini.
“Unless there is a vacancy for the position, then we have an understanding that it can be filled by another component party with the agreement of the chairperson of the area,” he added.
“The issue has never been brought up but maybe I shall open the way for discussions, it has to be raised at the state exco, so I will do that,” he stressed.
Rashid (right) said he is open to the idea of a JKKK election but such an exercise needs “proper allocation (budget) and has to be based on a well-thought out system and procedures”.
Presently, they are 290 JKKK members throughout the state; and five vacancies are yet to be filled.
Chairpersons are given an allowance of RM450, and secretaries RM350 monthly, while other committee members can claim up to RM90 in three months (claimable in three months), while annual allocation from the assemblypersons is fixed at RM1,000.
These members are the eyes and ears of the assemblypersons and assists the state government at the grassroots level, while monitoring the various administrative agencies.
They fill their coffers by running small businesses like organising night markets and erecting billboards in their respective constituencies, where they can earn up to RM500 monthly.
Rashid was asked about direct elections for the JKKKs as his PKR compatriots in Perak “have taken the bull by the horns”, said Suaram Penang, as residents from five villagers in Gopeng will be witnessing the exercise, which started on Sunday.
That day, the villages nominated their local leaders while polling day is fixed on June 30, similar to 2009, where Gunung Rapat had its first elections for their JKKK, while another three villages held theirs in 2011.
When Pakatan governed Perak in 2008, all the heads of 817 Malay kampungs were elected by the people, noted Suaram Penang, urging Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to follow suit.
Penang must start the ball rolling, as in Klang, the Selangor Pakatan government had also carried out JKKK elections, added the human rights NGO.
Needs analyses and training
Rashid said he has been looking at ways to improve the JKKKs, including carrying out a needs analysis and conducting the proper training for them to serve the people better.
In the financial aspect, previously only the chairperson and secretary can sign cheques, but recently the treasurer had been added to the task to encourage better transparency.
“It is good to consider the idea of local elections because there are several groups from various parties interested in the JKKK posts,” said Rashid.
“Such an exercise may be able to deal with areas where the JKKK members are not performing. These are issues that I have to resolve,” he added.
Rashid’s portfolio in the state government includes industrial development and international trade; cooperatives (including JKKK) and community networking, entrepreneur and student development.
Rashid said the issue has not cropped up before as the appointment for JKKKs are based on political appointees from Pakatan Rakyat’s three component parties - DAP, PAS and PKR - as it had been done previously under Barisan Nasional.
“There is a fixed quota from the three parties and we have been holding to this agreement to fill up the positions,” Rashid said in an interview with Malaysiakini.
“Unless there is a vacancy for the position, then we have an understanding that it can be filled by another component party with the agreement of the chairperson of the area,” he added.
“The issue has never been brought up but maybe I shall open the way for discussions, it has to be raised at the state exco, so I will do that,” he stressed.
Rashid (right) said he is open to the idea of a JKKK election but such an exercise needs “proper allocation (budget) and has to be based on a well-thought out system and procedures”.Presently, they are 290 JKKK members throughout the state; and five vacancies are yet to be filled.
Chairpersons are given an allowance of RM450, and secretaries RM350 monthly, while other committee members can claim up to RM90 in three months (claimable in three months), while annual allocation from the assemblypersons is fixed at RM1,000.
These members are the eyes and ears of the assemblypersons and assists the state government at the grassroots level, while monitoring the various administrative agencies.
They fill their coffers by running small businesses like organising night markets and erecting billboards in their respective constituencies, where they can earn up to RM500 monthly.
Rashid was asked about direct elections for the JKKKs as his PKR compatriots in Perak “have taken the bull by the horns”, said Suaram Penang, as residents from five villagers in Gopeng will be witnessing the exercise, which started on Sunday.
That day, the villages nominated their local leaders while polling day is fixed on June 30, similar to 2009, where Gunung Rapat had its first elections for their JKKK, while another three villages held theirs in 2011.
When Pakatan governed Perak in 2008, all the heads of 817 Malay kampungs were elected by the people, noted Suaram Penang, urging Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to follow suit.
Penang must start the ball rolling, as in Klang, the Selangor Pakatan government had also carried out JKKK elections, added the human rights NGO.
Needs analyses and training
Rashid said he has been looking at ways to improve the JKKKs, including carrying out a needs analysis and conducting the proper training for them to serve the people better.
In the financial aspect, previously only the chairperson and secretary can sign cheques, but recently the treasurer had been added to the task to encourage better transparency.
“It is good to consider the idea of local elections because there are several groups from various parties interested in the JKKK posts,” said Rashid.
“Such an exercise may be able to deal with areas where the JKKK members are not performing. These are issues that I have to resolve,” he added.
Rashid’s portfolio in the state government includes industrial development and international trade; cooperatives (including JKKK) and community networking, entrepreneur and student development.
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