News

  • Nation
  • World Updates
  • Courts
  • Parliament
  • Columnists
  • Opinion
  • Honours List

Wednesday November 29, 2006

Council with expensive tastes

By STUART MICHAEL

IT LOOKS like local governments and councillors have not learnt anything from the recent negative publicity surrounding their actions. It has in fact become worse, especially where the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) is concerned.

It seems that the boardroom isn't good enough for it to hold its full board meeting and seminar. The Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort (AGHGCR) seems more suited for the three-day event beginning Sunday.

Ahmad Fadzil ... 'the money should be put to good use, not for working holidays'
All in all, some 50 staff, including heads of departments would be attending the event and staying at the hill resort. The entire cost, between RM30,000 to RM40,000, is borne by the MPS.

A source said the council had booked 40 double deluxe rooms for the three-day, two-night stay in AGHGCR. The package comes with five meals a day and a convention room for the seminar.

Residents are fuming mad.

Ahmad Fadzil, 46, a resident in Pinggiran Batu Caves, wondered why was it so hard for MPS to understand that such trips were a waste of taxpayers' money.

Soong ... 'it's convenient and it's cheaper to hold meetings at MPS building premises'
“There are several potholes and numerous streetlights are not lit in my area,'' he said. “The money should be to good use such as rectifying these problems, not on working holidays.''

DAP Selangor state exco member M. Batumalai, who is also a resident of Bandar Country Homes, Rawang, agrees.

“The money could be used to help poor people in the area or even food problems in Rawang,'' he said.

“It is unethical for MPS to abuse public funds like this,'' said the 39-year-old who has been a resident in the area for the past four years.

Bandar Country Homes Residents' Association chairman Soong Beng Khoon said it was fine to hold a seminar since there were six newly-elected councillors for the 2006-2008 term.

“But full board meetings are where residents' issues are discussed. Why not begin this by making it more convenient and cheaper by holding it at the MPS building premises itself?''

MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim could not be contacted for comments.

Related Story:
Spending it like there's no tomorrow

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

News Poll