SEVERAL Petaling Jaya community leaders want the Pakatan Harapan government to ensure civil society representation remains in local councils.
This follows talk that the unity government may replace several councillors, whose terms ended on Dec 31, to make way for representatives from Barisan Nasional, especially Umno.
The 2023 batch of councillors at Selangor’s 12 local authorities only served for a year, with each body appointing 24 representatives.
With the exception of Orang Besar Daerah individuals, who are representatives of the Sultan of Selangor, most of the remaining councillors are political appointees from DAP, PKR and Amanah.
This is despite the fact that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had made his views clear in an exclusive interview with Sunday Star to mark his official birthday on Dec 11.
Tuanku had said that a problem in local councils was that councillors were all politicians.
The Selangor Ruler said this was not the case in the past whereby the composition was an equal combination of politicians and professionals.
“For example, there were retired engineers and doctors who would go to the ground to look up problems in the area.
“But if you give the job to politicians, they are not going to go to the ground,” said Tuanku.
The Ruler suggested that a policy be put in place in local councils whereby only potential future assemblymen are made councillors.
The remaining councillor positions, added Sultan Sharafuddin, should be filled by retirees and professionals as “the councils need a balance”.
Currently, only Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has three non-governmental organisations (NGO) or non-political councillors, namely Derek Fernandez, NK Thayalan Krishnasamy (better known as Kavin Thayalan) and Sakinah Bibi Nagoor.
Selva: 30% of councillors should comprise representatives from civil society and NGOs.
Community activist Selva Sugumaran said 30% of councillors should come from NGOs or civil society, and the appointees should also live within that particular area.
“When Pakatan Rakyat formed the Selangor government in 2008, they promised to give civil society a better platform to raise matters of interest to stakeholders.
“However, the number of councillors under the NGO quota keeps reducing or has disappeared,” he said.
“Now that there is a unity government, we heard that MBPJ’s NGO slot for councillors will be given to Barisan Nasional candidates.
“So Pakatan Harapan appears to be duplicating what Barisan had been doing until 2008, that is having only councillors from political parties,” added Selva.
Community leaders or NGO representatives, he said, were best suited to represent the people at local councils as they understood issues on the ground, would voice out people’s concerns and were not afraid to go against the tide.
“Besides having 30% NGO representation, a councillor’s term should be no more than five or six years to allow for fresh ideas and so that prevailing issues can be tackled from a different perspective.
“If a councillor were to be appointed at MBPJ, that person should reside within Petaling Jaya.
“It doesn’t make sense for someone staying in Bangi to be MBPJ councillor as he may not understand the area’s local issues,” said Selva, who is a former Section 14 Residents Association chairman.
Kavin, a quantity surveyor and civil contractor, said he asked not to be reappointed as MBPJ councillor as he wanted to take a break and focus on his business.
“I have been serving for five and a half years,” said Kavin, who was appointed MyPJ residents coalition representative under the NGO quota.
He said MyPJ lobbied to have at least one-third NGO representation in the councillors’ lineup in 2018.
“It is disappointing the Pakatan government wasn’t able to honour that.
“The NGO quota can also include technical experts such as engineers, accountants or architects.”
For example, he said Sakinah and her predecessors Ivy Chin and the late Anthony Thanasayan were able to give input from a disabled person’s perspective and help make Petaling Jaya more friendly for people with limited mobility.
“Councillors are more than people who help address complaints. They are involved in policymaking,” said Kavin.
He said ideally, a councillor should serve without fear or favour and champion matters of public interest.
“It is vital to appoint people with a diverse range of skills and capabilities to improve local government management.”
PJ Proactive spokesperson Ben Thompson pointed out that councillors should represent local communities.
Thompson: A good mix of councillors will ensure residents’ interests are taken into account.
PJ Proactive was previously known as MyPJ.
“A good mix of councillors will ensure residents’ interests and viewpoints are taken into account in making decisions.
“Our experience with councillors appointed by political parties is that they are invariably beholden to their political masters.
“Being compliant with party policies and obeying the party whip are a given.”
Thompson said a few political appointees who acted based on principle or in favour of residents were never seen again.
“Good local councillors should have a track record of working within the community and understand local issues and sentiments.
“They serve to build the city and community, not their own careers.
“Bringing in a variety of NGO representatives enables councils to tap different perspectives and strengths,” said Thompson.
He cited Thanasayan’s contributions as a councillor who advocated for the disabled and animal rights awareness.
The late activist is credited for driving adoption of universal user design in Petaling Jaya.
Sakinah hoped one seat in the next MBPJ councillors’ lineup would be for a person with disability (PWD).
“It need not necessarily be me as there are many other highly qualified PWDs.
“I’m just hopeful a seat will be given so we can give our input and make Petaling Jaya more accessible to all,” she said.
