DARWIS Serwin did not expect to lose his job as village chief after Barisan Nasional lost in Johor on May 9.

Although he voted for BN, the 56-year-old is not a Umno branch leader.

“We are not Umno branch leaders. If we are, then it’s politics. Village chiefs are not involved in politics, but accept their fate,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The termination notice  from the mentri besar’s office was sudden with just three days’ notice. It was dated May 28 and would take effect on May 31.

MB Osman Saipan hasn’t explained why 600 village chiefs had been terminated in Johor.

Umno Johor said the move by Pakatan Harapan was “rushed, baseless and vengeful”.

“This shows that the state government is political, rushed and unprofessional in handling local affairs,” said the former MB Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The Umno state liaison chief questioned why village chiefs were terminated and if new ones would be appointed.

In Batu Pahat, 173 village chiefs who were terminated were given a farewell and appreciation dinner at District Officer Mohad Haffiz Ahmad’s house.

“The village affairs are now being handled by the village chieftain, or Penghulu,” said Darwis, who was the former chief of Kg Haji Kamisan in Chaah Baru Mukim.

He was appointed village chief on September 16, 2014 and was responsible for four villages in the town of Chaah, which is between Labis and Yong Peng.

At the same time, the Johor state government is looking for new village chiefs.

The Batu Pahat district office put out an advertisement to fill up the 173 positions last week. The application starts today and ends on June 10.

The candidates will have to go through an interview to evaluate their capability and knowledge in administration, including religious knowledge.

Darwis said he did not intend to apply. 

“What has happened has happened,” he said. He just wants to be an ordinary person now and continue working in the village.

Some of his friends feel the same way although others have decided to apply for the new positions.

“Some of them are like ordinary people and have decided to continue their lives. Some are taking care of the rubber plantations and other work like that.

“They no longer function as the village chief,” said Darwis. – June 3, 2018.