BAU: All community leaders must prove themselves to the people and be loyal to the government if they wanted to serve the people long term.
Assistant Community Development Minister Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie said non-performing ones have only themselves to blame if their appointment was not extended upon its expiry.
This is because there was no point in sticking with those who were unable to discharge their responsibilities well or were not supportive of the government.
“Village headmen and `kapitans’ are the bridge between the people and the government, and because of that it would be natural that only those who can work well with everyone, including the authority and elected representatives, will be appointed,” he said at an event to present certificates to 14 village headmen and `kapitans’ from Tasik Biru constituency whose term of service were extended.
Nansian, who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman, explained that the government could not have unsupportive community leaders as it could affect policy and programme implementation.
On the appointment and extension of service of community leaders, Nansian clarified that elected representatives did not have the power to appoint or terminate their service.
“We can only give recommendations, but it is the government that will have the final say. Therefore, we should not be blamed for the appointment or termination of community leaders.”
There are 26 village chiefs and kapitans in Tasik Biru constituency, but thus far only the tenure of 14 of them had expired.
“It looks like all of them whose term of service has expired are being extended, which shows that they have done a good job and they should keep it up.”
Also present during the ceremony yesterday was Bau district officer Wong Hee Sieng.