Review local council functions, says MP
Published: Apr 8, 2008 10:26 AM | Updated: Apr 8, 2008 10:30 AM
A parliamentarian wants‘fundamental changes’ in local councils, ranging from public asset declaration of senior officers to allowing informal attire at meetings.
A parliamentarian wants‘fundamental changes’ in local councils, ranging from public asset declaration of senior officers to allowing informal attire at meetings.
DAP Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran, in a statement today, made nine suggestions to ensure the local councils are “efficiently managed”.
He said the March 8 general election - which saw five states fall into opposition hands - has made it necessary for a review of functions and responsibilities of local councils.
“Ask any MP or state assemblyperson and they will tell you that, invariably, elected representatives end up doing the work of local councillors,” Kula Segaran said.
He reiterated the call for local council elections, saying this is the only way to allow the ordinary rakyat to manage their own affairs.
“We are not surprised by the reluctance of the government to introduce direct local elections as the BN will not be able to control local councils if direct elections are held,” he said.
He was referring to Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Chuan’s remark in an interview with the New Straits Times yesterday. Ong had said local council elections will not solve problems when the causes lie in the delivery system.
Kula Segaran reiterated that the Pakatan Rakyat government will ensure at least 30 percent of all local councillors are from NGOs, while the rest will be political appointments - at least until the law is amended to allow for local council elections.
‘Make phone numbers public’
His nine suggestions are:
• All meetings of the local council should be held after office hours as there are common complaints about difficulty in reaching officers who are perpetually ‘in meetings’.
• The meetings should be open to the public. The dress-code should be relaxed to allow an informal atmosphere for discussion.
• All meetings should be recorded and published on the Internet - to be updated every 15 days - to get feedback from ratepayers.
• Addresses and contact numbers of local councillors should be made available. In addition, a mobile office should be stationed at markets.
• Sufficient notice must be issued to alert the public about council meetings.
• The public must be allowed a say in the decision-making process in tandem with the spirit of Local Agenda 21,which provides for wide public consultation.
• All road signage must be in Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil.
• All tender awards and appointment of officers in charge of the tender process must be transparent.
• All senior officers must publicly declare their assets.
DAP Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran, in a statement today, made nine suggestions to ensure the local councils are “efficiently managed”.
He said the March 8 general election - which saw five states fall into opposition hands - has made it necessary for a review of functions and responsibilities of local councils.
“Ask any MP or state assemblyperson and they will tell you that, invariably, elected representatives end up doing the work of local councillors,” Kula Segaran said.He reiterated the call for local council elections, saying this is the only way to allow the ordinary rakyat to manage their own affairs.
“We are not surprised by the reluctance of the government to introduce direct local elections as the BN will not be able to control local councils if direct elections are held,” he said.
He was referring to Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Chuan’s remark in an interview with the New Straits Times yesterday. Ong had said local council elections will not solve problems when the causes lie in the delivery system.
Kula Segaran reiterated that the Pakatan Rakyat government will ensure at least 30 percent of all local councillors are from NGOs, while the rest will be political appointments - at least until the law is amended to allow for local council elections.
‘Make phone numbers public’
His nine suggestions are:
• All meetings of the local council should be held after office hours as there are common complaints about difficulty in reaching officers who are perpetually ‘in meetings’.
• The meetings should be open to the public. The dress-code should be relaxed to allow an informal atmosphere for discussion.
• All meetings should be recorded and published on the Internet - to be updated every 15 days - to get feedback from ratepayers.• Addresses and contact numbers of local councillors should be made available. In addition, a mobile office should be stationed at markets.
• Sufficient notice must be issued to alert the public about council meetings.
• The public must be allowed a say in the decision-making process in tandem with the spirit of Local Agenda 21,which provides for wide public consultation.
• All road signage must be in Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil.
• All tender awards and appointment of officers in charge of the tender process must be transparent.
• All senior officers must publicly declare their assets.
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