Last week, the Melaka chief minister, YAB Adly Zahari, announced several key policy changes and reshuffling in the state administration.
The state government has decided to shorten the tenure of state appointees – local councillors, members of Village Community Management Council (MPKK), and DUN staff – to one year. Previously, the tenure was three years for local councillors and two years for MPKK members, while the ADUN has discretion over the tenure of DUN staff.
The chief minister also announced that two local councils – Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB) and Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya (MPHTJ) – will have a change of mayor in February 2019.
I applaud the decision by the chief minister and the state government for these changes. These would allow the state administration, especially the local councils, to continue functioning effectively.
The policy changes and reshuffling announced by the state government will ensure that the state appointees will not be complacent in their duties. Their performance will be assessed after a year, and those who do not carry out their duties appropriately will not have their appointment renewed.
My office has been receiving ongoing feedback by residents on their local councillors. Some of them are happy with the improved administration since Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over, while some are complaining that the councillors are not up to mark. There are also allegations of corruption creeping in.
I have forwarded and discussed these concerns with my PH colleagues at the state level. Rest assured, corrective actions will be taken accordingly. The policy changes described above is a step towards that direction.
Undoubtedly, the more fundamental reform need is local council elections. This reform is part of PH’s promise in the general election manifesto.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government, YBM Zuraida Kamaruddin, has stated that the federal government is studying the matter and aims to reintroduce local council elections within the next three years.
In the parliament session last year, I have urged the minister to accelerate the issue. I hope we will receive a positive update on local council elections this year.
In the meantime, I urge PH state governments to implement interim measures to ensure some form of accountability and transparency in local councils. Besides setting fixed and shorter tenures, we should also institute clear performance indicators for councillors and establish formal feedback mechanism for residents to give their views.