KUCHING: The full list of councillors for the state’s 24 local councils was announced yesterday but surprisingly, the mayors for Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) were not named.
It was unclear why the two mayors were not named but it seems that the mayorship is still under review.
Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) vice president Datuk Tiong Thai King is the current chairman of SMC and he has held the post for 15 years while the current mayor for MBKS is a non-political appointee Datuk James Chan whose term expires this August 31.
It was reliably learned that the appointment of these two mayors will be discussed at the next cabinet meeting.
For the first time, all councillors of the 24 local councils in the state for the 2019 to 2021 term attended the swearing in ceremony yesterday, unlike previously where they were sworn in at their respective councils.
The ceremony was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday here at Pullman Hotel Kuching.
Some 721 councillors attended the swearing in for the new term.
Among these 318 are new faces while the remaining 447 are reappointments.
Chief Minister in his speech said he was happy to note that almost 40 per cent of the councillors in the room were new faces.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Local Government and Housing minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Acting State Secretary Datuk Jaul Samion.
The number of new councillors were divided into the 24 councils with: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) (7); Miri City Council (7); Padawan Municipal Council (16); Sibu Municipal Council (15); Samarahan Municipal Council (11) Bau District Council (19); Lundu District Council (7); Serian District Council (14); Simunjan District Council (5); Sri Aman District Council (10); Lubok Antu District Council (15); Betong District Council (21); Saratok District Council (22); Sarikei District Council (16); Meradong and Julau District Council (13); Sibu Rural District Council (17); Kanowit District Council (16); Dalat and Mukah District Council (15); Matu and Daro District Council (19); Kapit District Council (10); Subis District Council (10); Marudi District Council (9); Limbang District Council (11); and Lawas District Council (13).
The councillors also took a corruption-free pledge.
The ceremony ended with photo sessions with the chief minister.
