‘Let councillors from Opposition continue to serve people’

Mohd Jafni says most of the councillors still have a year or less to go on their contracts.

COUNCILLORS from the Opposition should be treated with respect and given the chance to serve the people, says Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.

He said forcing these councillors to resign was not the “Johor way” of doing things as they too had played their part in helping the people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Most of them have a year or less to go on their contracts, so I do not think we should be in a hurry to get rid of them,” he said when met at his office in Kota Iskandar.

He added that a majority of these councillors were highly educated and vastly experienced in serving the people.

Jafni was commenting on a recent Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) meeting when two of the councillors urged those from Bersatu and PAS to resign.

“I am aware of this case. This is my first day in the office so give me a chance to meet the department heads to get their views before we proceed with any decision.”

Pasir Gudang mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman, in sharing his views, said the councillors’ main focus now should be to help people get back on their feet as the country transitions to endemic phase of Covid-19.

“I wish to quote former Johor mentri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad, who said Johor was bigger and more important than any ideology, politician or party.

“The councillors were selected to serve the people and I, as their leader, bear the responsibility to help the people who are in dire need,” Asman Shah said, adding that he would let each council member decide whether to quit or continue to serve the people.

During the council meeting on March 24, two council members Madyasir Ahmad Basir and Haryati Ismail had urged those who were not in support of the current government, to resign.

Haryati had said the politically- appointed councillors would be in the way of new policies introduced by the state government to help the people.

Meanwhile, Madyasir said councillors from the Opposition were given three options; to pledge their loyalty to the current government, to resign or to apply to be staff members under MBPG.

“In order to move forward, we need every council member to share the same vision and mission,” he added.