KOTA KINABALU: Usukan assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak is of the opinion that it is high time to hold village government elections, especially the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), to enhance the effectiveness of the grassroots administration in the future.
In making the call, he said the selection process of JKKK members should not be done administratively; instead, they should be appointed according to the provisions of the law.
Therefore, Salleh suggested that a specific provision to that effect be incorporated in the Rural Administration (Amendment) Bill 2023.
“This is to ensure that we are bound by the provisions of the law, and we must comply with the election results or accept the reality of whoever is elected,” he said.
Salleh said this when debating the Rural Administration (Amendment) Bill 2023 at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly here today.
Expressing full support for the tabling of the bill, the former Sabah Chief Minister said it was time for JKKK to be recognised as a village government.
“This means we will have four governments, namely the federal government, the state government, the local government, and the village government.
“This is because before this I have noticed many problems at the lower rung of administration or grassroots level, and the time has come for us to depoliticize the situation.
According to him, if the current situation continues, it will not solve the problem.
“We should learn how to manage differences and not just similarities. If you manage similarities, everything is possible, but if you manage differences, it’s not easy,” he said.
