FEDERAL Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKKP) members knew their fate when Barisan Nasional lost GE14 and failed to retain the federal government.

Mohd Samaon Sarif of Kampung Ijok in Selangor said he was prepared to lose his post, along with the RM900 monthly allowance.

This will now happen following the Pakatan Harapan cabinet’s decision yesterday to abolish the JKKKP as well as other government bodies deemed political tools of the previous BN administration.

“I will abide by the decision, but what I’m concerned about is that the welfare of the villagers be taken care of,” the 62-year old who has served five years as a JKKKP member, told Malaysia Decides.

Samaon said the committee was tasked with village welfare and explaining government policies to the people.

As these committees operated in rural and semi-rural areas, they also functioned as liaison between villagers and the BN government. Large gatherings with BN leaders were held at least six times a year, where the whole village would be invited.

In the previous term, JKKKP was only set up by the federal government in states controlled by the opposition, such as Kelantan, Penang and Selangor.

Appointments were made through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry of between 13 and 15 people per committee, and all were usually Umno members. On top of a monthly allowance, JKKKP members also received a meeting allowance.

Allocations from the federal government for welfare aid and events with BN leaders were channelled straight to the committee, bypassing the local village chief.

“The JKKKP was under the federal government. We did things like write support letters for villagers’ children to apply for scholarships. 

“We held gatherings between villagers and government leaders. We were involved in kenduri (feasts) and prayer gatherings,” said Samaon, whose committee looked after 4,000 people in his village.

Makmur Abdul Talib, another JKKKP committee member from Kampung Bestari Jata, Batang Berjuntai, said the committee was important to villagers in rural areas who depended on provisions and other welfare aid. 

“I don’t have a problem if the committees are abolished, I am just concerned about the welfare of the villagers. It’s not the same as living in urban areas.

“What will happen if PH elected representatives turn out to be inactive?” the 61-year-old said.

Makmur’s committee looks after about 2,000 villagers. Safety and security, such as assistance during natural disasters, were major issues in his village.

“Whenever there are floods, we are there to help. If there is a fire, I will arrange for government aid. We do all these things sincerely,” he said.

Samaon said he saw his role as a JKKKP member as a job he did for the BN government.

“We attended seminars, where we were given information on how to explain government policies to villagers.

“It was also our role to filter lies (about the government). For example, concerning the goods and services tax (GST). We would explain to villagers when we met them at the coffee shop, said Samaon.

Despite the loss of allowances and access to funds for committee members, political analyst Hisommuddin Bakar yesterday said the move to scrap JKKKPs will save the country money, reduce bureaucracy and politicking at the grassroots level.

As for concerns over the villagers’ welfare, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said this would be taken over by the relevant government agencies. – May 25, 2018.