KUCHING: The federal government will appoint its own Tuai Rumah and other leaders of longhouses in Sarawak.
This idea was introduced after the federal cabinet decided to replace and rebrand the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) to Village Community Management Council (Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung — MPKK) in June last year.
Rural Development Deputy Minister Sivarasa Rasiah told reporters this after the Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) annual general meeting (AGM) opening ceremony at Imperial Hotel last Sunday night.
He said the mechanics of the appointments to be worked out by his ministry is expected to be announced early next year.
“We will revamp the MPKK appointment system in five states: Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis and Sarawak,” he said.
Sivarasa further mentioned that last year the Pakatan Harapan government has agreed that the community leaders would be appointed by the respective state governments, but in Sarawak it has not worked out very well.
“For example, it has gone to the extent that last year there was even a letter issued by the State Secretary of Sarawak warning all Tuai Rumah and other community leaders appointed by the state not to attend events organised by PH assemblymen or MPs,” he explained.
He said the MPKK idea was brought up after negotiations with the state government regarding allowance payments for the state’s community leaders and Tuai Rumah reached a dead-end late last year.
Earlier on, in his speech, Works Minister Baru Bian who is also Selangau suggested that community leaders and Tuai Rumah be elected instead of being appointed by the state government.
This was to ensure that villages or longhouses would be led by leaders wanted by the people and not someone who has political interests.
“Like what Baru said, there are many places where the longhouse committee will, by election, pick a certain Tuai Rumah. We will appoint our own so the (federal) minister will sign the appointment letters,” he added.
When asked what would happened if a longhouse has two leaders (federal appointed Tuai Rumah and state government appointed one), Sivarasa clarified that it would be up to the longhouse residents to decide since they will be the one electing the federal government-appointed Tuai Rumah.
“After all, the federal government is paying their salaries. The money is there. Certainly in Malaya we are paying. As far as Sarawak, the money flow has always been there but because of this tension I think the state government stopped accepting the money after a while.
“There are many cases of Tuai Rumah who are elected, but not appointed (by the state government). We will do our best to avoid that (tension among longhouse residents).
“We will use the model which Baru has described just now (elected Tuai Rumah). We will have leaders who have the support of the people. I think that is the best way forward,” he said.
