THE federal and Sarawak governments are expected to butt heads over the decision by Putrajaya to appoint community leaders, such as tuai rumah (longhouse chiefs), pemanca and temenggong.

Deputy Rural Development Minister R. Sivarasa said in Kuching last night that his ministry would make the appointments even if the communities might have two leaders each.

Sivarasa, who is also Sungai Buloh MP, said the decision to take over the appointment of community leaders was a cabinet decision and “a good target to start is January 1”.

Currently, appointments are decided by the state government.

When asked if this decision would create disunity, Sivarasa told reporters during the PKR divisions annual general assembly that his ministry “will do our best to avoid disunity”.

He said the mechanics of the appointment have yet to be worked out.

After Pakatan Harapan won the general election last year, it tried to fulfil its promise by ensuring community leaders, particularly longhouse chiefs, were elected by their anak biak (people).

In an effort to end the political appointment system practised by the Sarawak government, Putrajaya applied some pressure by withholding 70% payment of salaries of the community leaders.

Sarawak it brushed aside and took over paying the community leaders.

Sivarasa said allowing Sarawak to have complete say in the appointments had “not worked out very well” for the federal government as he echoed Selangau MP Baru Bian’s views – Putrajaya found it had no representation at the village level.

He added the Sarawak government had banned community leaders from attending Pakatan Harapan functions.

He was alluding to the memorandum, signed by then state secretary Morshidi Ghani on October 11 and addressed to the Residents’ Offices (of the state’s 12 administrative divisions), where it directed community leaders and village headmen to only attend official functions of the state government.

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah had said the decision was a tit-for-tat action in response to the many the Pakatan Harapan government had taken since it came to power, particularly the withdrawal and termination of support by federal departments and agencies to the state.

Uggah had said the state government was caught by surprise by the withdrawal as many of them were made without explanation.

He had mentioned the Information Department as one of them.

Uggah had also said in some areas, state ministers and elected representatives from the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) were not allowed to attend or invited to school functions.

Sivarasa said there are “many places” where elections were held but the elected headmen were not appointed by the state.

He said by appointing their elected headmen, “we are doing our best to match the people’s expectations”.

“They get the leader they chose. We will appoint that leader.

“That’s what we have to do. After all, we are paying their salaries.”

In communal living like in a longhouse, control of the headman is crucial in securing electoral support.

Sivarasa said the cabinet decision meant the village community management council in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perlis would be revamped. – September 16, 2019.