KOTA KINABALU: The establishment of the federal village security management committee (JPKKP) in Sabah poses no threat to the state’s village development and security committee (JKKK), says a Sabah Umno division leader.
Keningau Umno division head Nik Mohd Nadzri Nik Zawawi said that both entities would instead complement each other as both had different roles.
According to him, the JPKKP was necessary in the state as it smoothed the government's work in managing villages and mobilising community activities, in addition to being a medium for communicating information to the people.
He said the issue of the duplication of duties did not arise despite contentions from certain quarters questioning the role of the JPKKP.
“The JPKKP and JKKK are two dissimilar bodies and there is no question of overlapping of work, what more disrupts unity among the people,” he said after presenting appointment letters to JPKKP chairmen in Keningau on Sunday (Sept 29).
“On the contrary, this benefits residents in the state so that progress especially in the rural areas can be enhanced,” added Nik Mohd Nadzri.
The JPKKP was established under the Madani Village Development Committee (JKDM) by the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry in May of this year.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Sabah Pakatan Harapan leaders had previously criticised the move to establish the JKDM in Sabah, claiming it was a "divide and conquer" ploy by Umno to strengthen its influence in the state.
They said JKDM was not needed in the state as the JKKK was already doing the job of looking after the grassroots.
This was brushed off by state Umno leaders, including its chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who said the JKDM was aimed at helping the state government elevate the socio-economy and well-being of communities.
Bung said this is especially in rural areas, with the aim of uplifting people out of the hardcore poverty bracket.
Towards this end, Nik Mohd Nadzri urged JPKKP chairmen to play an effective role in planning and implementing programmes in their villages as well as channel arising issues faced by the grassroots to the authorities.
