Davide Thien
Sabahans have slammed the practice of 'political appointees' and want local council polls reintroduced.
They want local government elections returned!
This was the response from ratepayers in Sandakan, Tuaran and Kota Kinabalu following Umno Sepanggar division’s call for Kota Kinabalu to appoint two mayors – one in the north for the Bumiputeras and another in the south for the Chinese – as practised in Kuching.
Most ratepayers whom FMT approached were not bothered about the “number of mayors” but were against bringing on more deadwood “political appointees” into local councils.
One ratepayer, KH Tan, from here, said he did not bother to vote in last November’s Batu Sapi by-election because he did not believe the representative could effect a change.
“I felt that the MP – whether from BN or the opposition – will not be in a position to bring about the needed change at the Sandakan municipal level.
“Now the council is full of political appointees and complacent civil servants who do not show exemplary leadership.”
He said that politicians (and appointees) wasted too much time trying to solve local council problems “due to incompetent personnel who neglected their duties”.
“The Sandakan Municipal Council, for instance, must be able to function efficiently and be independent of any political leadership.
“It should be able to act on its own initiative and must put the interest of the people first. They should be performing right the first time and every time,” Tan said.
No outsiders please!
Another irate taxpayer here claimed that Sandakan Municipal Council president James Wong was hardly seen around town unlike his predecessor Yeo Boon Hai, who is now the director-general of Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
“Now it is difficult to see Wong. You have to to fix an appointment through his secretaries, but invariably you won’t get to see him,” said the shopkeeper.
In Tuaran and Kota Kinabalu, the grouses are the same except that the ratepayers want local council leaders to come from among them and not “outsiders”.
“Most of the time the council leader is an outsider. He doesn’t know the area’s history or local issues.
“We need a leader who has lived among us for years,” said a Tuaran contractor.
Most ratepayers, when interviewed, were against a political appointee like the current mayor (of Kota Kinabalu) who is related to Chief Minister Musa Aman.
“An elected mayor would be more than just window dressing. He would strive to win approval to be returned again at the next election.
“He or she will sincerely work for the interest of the ratepayers instead of trying to make an impression on dignitaries visiting Kota Kinabalu,” said Wong Kim Hung.
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