The Star, Thursday August 29, 2013
KAJANG Municipal Council (MPKj)
councillors have tabled a motion of no confidence against the MPKj
administration and want the matter brought up to the Selangor state
government.
The motion was tabled at the MPKj full board meeting yesterday, after the swearing-in ceremony for six new councillors.
The motion was unanimously agreed upon by all 23 councillors who were present at the meeting.
Speaking on behalf of the group, MPKj councillor Muhmad Hamidi Mohd Nazir said: “We are anxious and worried about MPKj’s performance, administration and management, which is flawed, weak, unfriendly to councillors and filled with unhealthy tendencies and dubious practices.
“We resorted to this move as we realised that MPKj’s failure to function properly and with integrity will affect its ability to implement policies set by the state government to benefit the people.”
The MPKj councillors had mutually agreed to highlight the matter to the Selangor government via a letter dated Aug 5, 2013, that was addressed to Local Government, Studies and Research committee chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim for its consideration, investigation and action.
“During this critical period, it is our opinion that we will no longer be getting the necessary cooperation and respect from MPKj’s top management to enable us to carry out our responsibilities and duties as councillors effectively and efficiently,” said Muhmad Hamidi.
“As such, we are also submitting a motion to put on hold any role, task and participation by the councillors in MPKj’s administration, management and meetings effective Aug 28, 2013, until a solution is found to overcome this crisis, as recommended by the councillors in our letter to Teng.”
In response, MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman said the disagreements were partly due to dissatisfaction with MPKj’s top management.
However, neither Hasan nor any of the councillors are willing to reveal details on the disagreements.
On the council’s next move, Hasan said: “The matter will have to be referred to the Selangor Mentri Besar.
“According to Section 10 (7) of Act 171 or the Local Government Act 1976, if the mayor or president does not agree with the other councillors as to the exercise of any of his powers or of the powers of the local authority, he shall refer the matter to the Mentri Besar or Chief Minister of the state whose decision here on shall be final and binding on the local authority.”
On accusations that there had been abuse of power by MPKj officials, Hasan said evidence must be submitted to the state government to support such accusations.
“This motion will not affect MPKj’s day-to-day administration, as the council will continue functioning as usual. Only meetings that involve councillors will not be able to proceed,” he said.
“This is also not the first time we have functioned without councillors; after the general elections in 2008, there was a three-month gap during which the councillors were yet to be appointed.”
“Politicians come and go, but government servants remain and have to continue carrying out their work”.
Meanwhile, the six new councillors who were sworn in are Chan Koy Choon, 36, will writer (DAP), Dominic Yip Weng Weay, 36, tour manager (DAP), John Leong Chiew Sing, 47, insurance manager (DAP), Muhamad Sukor Atan, 52, retiree (PAS), Rajendra Kumar Munusamany, 32, businessman (PKR) and Thiagarajah Rajagopal, 49, businessman (NGO).
The motion was unanimously agreed upon by all 23 councillors who were present at the meeting.
Speaking on behalf of the group, MPKj councillor Muhmad Hamidi Mohd Nazir said: “We are anxious and worried about MPKj’s performance, administration and management, which is flawed, weak, unfriendly to councillors and filled with unhealthy tendencies and dubious practices.
“We resorted to this move as we realised that MPKj’s failure to function properly and with integrity will affect its ability to implement policies set by the state government to benefit the people.”
The MPKj councillors had mutually agreed to highlight the matter to the Selangor government via a letter dated Aug 5, 2013, that was addressed to Local Government, Studies and Research committee chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim for its consideration, investigation and action.
“During this critical period, it is our opinion that we will no longer be getting the necessary cooperation and respect from MPKj’s top management to enable us to carry out our responsibilities and duties as councillors effectively and efficiently,” said Muhmad Hamidi.
“As such, we are also submitting a motion to put on hold any role, task and participation by the councillors in MPKj’s administration, management and meetings effective Aug 28, 2013, until a solution is found to overcome this crisis, as recommended by the councillors in our letter to Teng.”
In response, MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman said the disagreements were partly due to dissatisfaction with MPKj’s top management.
However, neither Hasan nor any of the councillors are willing to reveal details on the disagreements.
On the council’s next move, Hasan said: “The matter will have to be referred to the Selangor Mentri Besar.
“According to Section 10 (7) of Act 171 or the Local Government Act 1976, if the mayor or president does not agree with the other councillors as to the exercise of any of his powers or of the powers of the local authority, he shall refer the matter to the Mentri Besar or Chief Minister of the state whose decision here on shall be final and binding on the local authority.”
On accusations that there had been abuse of power by MPKj officials, Hasan said evidence must be submitted to the state government to support such accusations.
“This motion will not affect MPKj’s day-to-day administration, as the council will continue functioning as usual. Only meetings that involve councillors will not be able to proceed,” he said.
“This is also not the first time we have functioned without councillors; after the general elections in 2008, there was a three-month gap during which the councillors were yet to be appointed.”
“Politicians come and go, but government servants remain and have to continue carrying out their work”.
Meanwhile, the six new councillors who were sworn in are Chan Koy Choon, 36, will writer (DAP), Dominic Yip Weng Weay, 36, tour manager (DAP), John Leong Chiew Sing, 47, insurance manager (DAP), Muhamad Sukor Atan, 52, retiree (PAS), Rajendra Kumar Munusamany, 32, businessman (PKR) and Thiagarajah Rajagopal, 49, businessman (NGO).
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