Senator Robert Lau.
SIBU (June 7): The debate over the appointment of local community leaders has been inappropriately turned into a political point-scoring matter, observes Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan branch chairman Senator Robert Lau.
According to him, such argument has somewhat ‘painted a misleading picture’ with regard to the actual process, where there is already a selection committee that looks into such appointments.
The key five-member committee in Sibu District that oversees the appointment of community leaders comprises the senator himself and Michael Tiang representing SUPP, Romeo Christopher and Nazatusyima Bujang from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), and Teo Boon Siew from Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, being the sole assemblyman in Sibu from the state’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), is a member too, while Sibu Resident Charles Siaw is the committee chairman, said the senator.
“Any of the key five committee members can submit names for the appointment of community leaders.
“In addition, the head of community leaders in Sibu, Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau, has also submitted his nominees, as have the local YBs (elected representatives) and local community associations.
“Even the PSB (Parti Sarawak Bersatu) has submitted their nominees,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The senator then talked about the guideline that the selection committee must follow.
“The three key criteria (for selection of community leaders) are the candidate must be below the age of 70 – except in the case of re-appointment; the candidate must be a resident of the specified jurisdiction; and the candidate must be proficient in either Bahasa Malaysia or English languages,” he said.
The senator said to uphold the highest level of objectivity in the selection process, all candidates had been engaged in interviews held prior to the committee meeting in February this year, conducted by a panel from Sibu District Office, adding that the findings from the interviews were presented during the committee meeting.
“Throughout the meeting, it was the PDP representative who kept objecting to any candidate who was not from PDP. PDP has submitted names (for the community leader’s posts) for all the Chinese areas and some Iban areas.
“When their (PDP) candidates failed to meet the three key criteria, Teo would vehemently object.
“His stated objective from the outset of the meeting was that half of his candidates must be selected, regardless of the guidelines,” said Senator Lau.
“The final list of names recommended by the committee consisted of nominees from various political parties, and also those from Temenggong Lau.
“Some of the nominees are not aligned to any political entity; some are members of more than one party.
Several posts received the same nominees.
“There were nominees who were not accepted as they were recruited to join a political party so as to be nominated as community leaders. The committee strongly views that the any of the community leader post must not be used as an incentive to recruit political members.”
Moreover, Senator Lau said after the five-hour meeting, all those present signed off to confirm the name list – except Teo.
“He (Teo) insisted that he did not have the power to sign because he had not achieved the set 50 per cent of the (community leader) nominees coming from PDP.
“Despite the plea and explanation by the chairman of the meeting and other members, he still refused (to sign).
“This was the sole cause behind the non-appointment of those nominated as the new community leaders in Sibu,” disclosed the senator.
Adding on, Senator Lau said the only appointment approved by the higher authorities was the post of Pemanca, which went to Datuk Jason Tai Hee.
“PDP did not agree to this appointment too, as the candidate (Tai) is not a PDP member. For the record, the nominee from PDP was over the set age eligibility (70 years old).
“In the future, I hope the selection process would not be used for political mileage; for the community leader posts (to be used) as political patronage. The paramount condition is that the best candidates are nominated to serve,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, acting PDP Youth chief David Yeo viewed the appointment of community leaders in Sibu as not being SUPP’s ‘exclusive property’.
“These positions must be appointed based on merits and the pragmatic approach to it should be of public service quality. Simply using the GPS name for SUPP’s benefit is only going to erode the coalition’s good name, bit by bit.
“When SUPP questioned PDP for proposing to allow half of the community leaders to be appointed by PDP, I can equally ask why SUPP has been persistently bringing up its historical deeds.
“Times are changing. If we don’t buck up our service quality to meet the people’s standards for their political leaders today, it would be impossible for us to remain in government.
“Stop thinking about your past glories and enriching yourself; it is time for self-reflection,” Yeo pointed out.