Assemblymen to sit as observers at MBPJ meetings

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Assemblymen to sit as observers at MBPJ meetings
By TAN KARR WEI, JADE CHAN AND OH ING YEEN

SELANGOR state assemblymen will now sit in as observers at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) full board and committee meetings.

Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San said this would encourage greater transparency because council committee meetings used to be closed-door meetings.

“Compared with the previous government, assemblymen were not appointed as councillors this time around but we will still monitor what's happening at the councils,” said Lau.

After a long wait and amid much speculation, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillors were finally sworn in yesterday at a ceremony at the MBPJ headquarters at Jalan Yong Shook Lin.

Despite demands by representatives of PJ residents to be included as councillors, the announced list remained the same with 17 political appointees (seven from PKR, six from DAP and four from PAS) and seven NGO representatives. Women power: (From left) Cynthia Manonmani Michael Gabriel, Latheefa Beebi Koya, Professor Madya Dr Melasutra Md Dall and Tiew Way Keng are the four female councillors sworn in at MBPJ yesterday.

All the councillors were sworn in except for Michael Soon, who was away attending to work matters.

Also present at the ceremony were PJ Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohamed Talha, Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim.

In his speech, Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Roslan Sakiman reminded the councillors about their duties and responsibilities in serving the people and city of PJ, and for all to work together as a team.

“The 'no wrong door policy' needs to be practised in this council,” he said, adding that the combination of professionals, politicians and NGO representatives would make the new councillor line-up a dynamic combination that would generate good ideas for the development of PJ.

Roslan said the council would decide on the 24 areas that each councillor would be in charge of and they would be required to open up a service centre at their respective areas.

They would receive an annual allocation of RM100,000 each to run their service centres and the amount for this year would be pro-rated.

Councillor Ghazali Shaari (PAS) said his main concern was in areas with a high concentration of low-income earners.

“There is a big disparity between the rich and the poor and if this issue is not looked into, it would lead to social problems and is bad for society,” said Ghazali.

Urban planner Dr Melasutra Md Dali said: “ I wish that we can do better in terms of planning and nurturing the environment to make it more liveable.

Meanwhile, Kamarudin Suhaimi (PAS) hopes to see PJ become more civilised and better developed to attract tourists.

“I would like to have the various small hubs and towns in PJ to be identified and given their own unique identities, so people know which part of PJ to go to when they want something.”

Anthony Thanasayan said one of the first things he would do is to request that he be allowed to bring his dog to help him move about within MBPJ’s premise.

“I have submitted my letter of request to the mayor,’’ said Anthony who is a columnist for The Star.