SHAH ALAM: The presence of women was conspicuous during the mass swearing
-in ceremony for Selangor's 283 local councillors at the Dewan Jubli Perak here recently.
Rabiah said she plans to focus on the welfare of youth.
Gurdip said she was still in a state of disbelief.
Among those present was Gurdip Singh, one of 41 women councillors sworn in and a representative of the disabled at the Selayang Municipal Council.
She said she is proud to have been selected as a councillor. She had not been sure of being chosen. "I am still in a state of disbelief 
that I have been anmed a councillor from among the NGOs.
"I will use this opportunity to make changes for the betterment of the public, especially the disabled," she said.
Gurdip added that the appointment of more women councillors in municipalities is a great step forward, but that the appointees must be willing to work hard and not be motivated by self-interest.
Fellow-councillor Rabiah Omar, who is also a member of the All Women Action Society, said she was focused on the task ahead and is raring to begin carrying out her new duties.
"I plan to focus on the welfare of youth. I want to help provide more educational and self-enhancement building programmes for them," said Rabiah, a former executive director of the society.
Most of the new councillors were present for the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday; six could not attend because of personal reasons, and two had declined appointment.
Prior to the ceremony, the councillors attended a half-day conference where they were briefed on the duties and challenges of their new roles. The talk was delivered by Datin Arpah Abdul Razak, director-general of local government in the Local Government and Housing Ministry.
The councillors were also given a talk on national township policy by Rural and Urban Planning Department (National Physical Planning Division) director Rohani Md Hashim.
This was followed by the swearing-in ceremony, which saw the councillors making a mass pledge to serve in the state's local councils.
Shah Alam mayor Mazalan Md Noor then led councillors in accepting their appointment letters from Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Afterwards, Khalid said a total of 300 councillors had been appointed, with 288 of them comprising members of the ruling coalition's parties and NGOs, as well as professionals.
However, the MPs and ADUN are allowed to attend council meetings as ex-officio members. As such, they are allowed to voice their views in meetings, but they have no voting rights," the Menteri Besar said.
"I am happy with the appointment and clearly, we see more women councillors and professionals in the line-up."
Khalid added that in two months' time, all the new councillors will be sent for a incentive course at a training centre in Morib.
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