SARAWAK has snubbed calls for community leaders in Sarawak to be elected as it is not the state government’s standard practice.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah told the state assembly today that community leaders will continue to be appointed by the state government.

Last week, Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian had suggested a return to electing community leaders by their own people, which he said was traditionally practised in the past.

Baru, who is federal works minister, said the elected community leaders had no tenure limits as “they credible, respected leaders who had the confidence and trust of the people”.

He said those appointed to their positions will be always face the perception that the appointments are political by nature and they risk becoming political tools for the government of the day.

“The ketua masyarakat became political tools used by the ruling political parties to control the rural folk,” Baru said.

Uggah, however, replied that the state government’s appointment system ensures cohesion amongst the community and “is the best system to maintain harmony in our multiracial society”.

The federal government had frozen the salary and allowances of community leaders to force the removal of political appointees and the state government had picked up the tab instead.

Baru had said that the federal government has allocated RM35 million to pay community leaders but will not be disburse the funds until the appointees are removed.

“The current ketua masyarakat are not elected but are unilaterally appointed by politicians and Sarawak ruling parties against the wishes of the longhouse residents, who cannot receive the federal government’s allocation,” he said.

Baru had also advised longhouse residents to make statutory declarations to report to the Rural Development Ministry if the Sarawak government continues using federal funds to pay politically appointed longhouse chiefs.

The Sarawak government, in retaliation to the federal salary freeze, imposed a ban on community leaders from attending functions organised by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government.

Uggah however, told the state assembly today that “community leaders can attend any programmes or function as long as it is official functions”. – November 14, 2018.