KAPIT: Kapit Kwang Tung Association vice-chairman Kong Cheak Hie has called on the government to consider appointing a member from the clan to be community leader or local councillor.
He said the government should not overlook the Kwang Tung clan here on the matter.
“Apart from Foochow and Hockien, Kwang Tung has a sizeable population here, but we only have one community leader in Kapitan Yong Thu Fook.
“None of our clan members have been appointed a councillor, and that is sad,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Kong said the last Kwang Tung Association member to be appointed a councillor was Kenny Tong, but when he stepped down there was no replacement from the association.
“Likewise, Pemanca Dato Seri Tan Kian Hoo and Kapitan Ma Tian Kock both represented the Chiang Chuan clan, Kapitan Micky Ngu representing the Foochow, but Kapitan Yong Thu Fook is the only one from Kwang Tung clan.
“Since, we’ve sizeable population, obviously having only one Kapitan to look after the big Kwang Tung community is insufficient to provide comprehensive services for the community.”
On another matter, Kong called on the government to speed up the process of appointing Chinese community leaders.
“Since the demise of Temenggong Lau Kah Kee last Dec 12, we only have a Pemanca and a Kapitan. While Song and Belaga have a Chinese penghulu, there has been none for Kapit since independence.
“Therefore, there’s every need to create a penghulu post in the interest of the people in Kapit.
“But of course, don’t neglect Kwang Tung clan in the spirit of sharing.”
