Revamp of local councils sought

IPOH: March 24, 2008

A non-governmental organisation sees the formation of the new tripartite state government as the perfect opportunity to have a re-look at the appointment and function of local councillors.

Ipoh City Watch, an NGO based here, is organising a public forum on April 20 to discuss ways of restructuring the local councils. Ipoh City Watch deputy president Lt-Col (R) Fathol Zaman Bukhari said guest speakers, including retired academician and former Penang municipal councillor Dr Goh Ban Lee, have been invited.

Fathol said the forum was also an opportunity for rate payers to give their input. "Our view is that local councillors should not be passive representatives of the people as they are under the current system.

"Their positions should not be reduced to that of robotic rubber stamps."We would love to have representatives from the various professional bodies so that the forum could come out with strong recommendations for the new state government," Fathol said.

The matter of representation of NGOs as local councillors was also raised during Ipoh City Watch's annual general meeting yesterday.

Ipoh City Watch president Chan Kok sun said it was important for local councils to remain apolitical in order to maintain their credibility in voicing out the concerns of residents.