KUCHING: There is no need to have the Village Community Management Council (MPKK) as an alternative body to the existing Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK), said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He pointed out that the JKKK had shown itself to be an efficient grassroots machinery in the state, especially in acting as a bridge between the people and the government.
“If the federal government’s initiative continues, it will only lead to confusion and will definitely divide the people,” warned Uggah.
He said this in response to statements by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak chairman Baru Bian, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak president Chong Chieng Jen and PKR Sarawak vice president Ali Biju on the proposed establishment of MPKK.
“I wish to put it on record here that the Sarawak government has yet to be informed formally of any proposal to change the JKKK to MPKK except for the media statements by the three Yang Berhormats,” he clarified in a press statement yesterday.
According to Uggah, when the federal government decided to change the name of the JKKK to MPKK, the Sarawak government suggested that the name of the JKKK be maintained in the state.
“The federal government agreed it would not change the JKKK to MPKK. It also agreed not to introduce or form the MPKK in the state. Therefore, the JKKK is retained in Sarawak.
“The federal government too, concurred with our view that another body would only serve to confuse and divide the people,” he explained.
Uggah added that the federal government had decided to reduce the allowance of the JKKK to RM500, adding that it has been remitting the allowance payment to the state government without fail.
“In Sarawak, the federal government recognises that the chairman of the respective JKKK be from the Ketua Kaum, namely the Tuai Rumah, Ketua Kampung and the Kapitan.
“Subsequently, the Sarawak government decided to top up with another RM400 to the allowance as previously, the Ketua Kaum had been receiving RM900 per person per month,” he revealed.
