The setting up of the Civil Society Council which has been agreed upon in principle by the Perak government, has the role of providing public feedback to each Municipal and District Council in the state, said Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.

NONE Therefore, he said, the existing Local Agenda 21 needed to be fine-tuned and activated to enable it to be an efficient channel for the civil society to  assist the local authorities in making decisions.

"We realise that civil society from the non-governmental organisations (NGO) also has a role to play in Perak's development. The Civil Society Council comprising NGO members will participate in the decision-making process at the local government-level to help make a wise decision in any matter," he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting in Ipoh today.

He said the state government would study the number of Civil Society Council members required for every local authority.

Zambry has instructed State Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Public Transportation and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairperson Dr Mah Hang Soon to identify the best implementation model for the purpose.

The Local Agenda 21 is a programme to create partnerships between the local authorities and communities they serve in planning for and looking after their respective areas towards sustainable development.

Zambry said the participation of the Civil Society Council in every local government would not interfere with the role of the existing local councillors.

"The Civil Society Council will obtain feedback from all levels of society  on any proposal before it is tabled for discussion by the local councillors to avoid the local authorities making wrong decisions.

"We will also study the weaknesses and inadequacies which may exist at the  early implemention level. The civil societies will also have their own meetings as their views are also important before the local councillors hold theirs."

On another development, Zambry said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin would be attending the national-level Language Month celebration at the Indera Mulia Stadium on Oct 5.

- Bernama