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SIBU – A proposal to appoint full-time chairmen for the district councils will be brought up to the state cabinet soon, said Sarawak Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Penguang Manggil.
“Politically appointed, the full-time district council chairmen who are close to the community are expected to be able to lead the respective district councils in bringing better services to the people.
“The chairmen have always been district officers who, unlike before, have many other duties and responsibilities.
“I think we should move forward along that line because the councils nowadays have many more challenges, duties, and responsibilities than before, hence the requirement for full-time chairmen,” he told the press.
He was met after his ministry’s “Engagement with Stakeholder Central Zone Local Government” programme here today.
According to Penguang, who is also the state assemblyman for Marudi, only the Marudi district council has a full-time chairman at the moment.
“It makes a lot of difference as a full-time chairman has the commitment and vision to see what he has planned for the last few years, and to see through what the council wants to do for a better life for people in the rural areas,” he stressed.
Apart from that, his ministry is also exploring the possibility of reengineering revenue to increase funds for the councils.
On the open spaces given for the councils to look after, he said the councils can apply to do whatever they deem necessary, such as building car parks, trading places, stalls, or public venues that can generate revenue for them. – Bernama, September 27, 2022