The Sarawak government is gradually filling the 616 posts for councillors in 24 local councils, after waiting almost a year for political leadership problems to be settled within certain component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN)

De facto

state minister of local government, William Mawan, said today that 65 percent of the appointments will take effect from Feb 1 for a duration of one year. The rest will be announced in stages.

Mawan is the state Environment and Public Health Minister with jurisdiction over local government affairs.

The move to proceed with only a partial list of appointees is in consideration of the appeal lodged by the trouble-ridden Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) against its de-registration on Dec 5 last year.

Local English-language tabloid Malaysian Today quoted Assistant Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dublin Unting as saying that all names submitted by the PBDS faction led by Dr James Masing ( photo ) had been approved by the state cabinet.

Unting, who is aligned with this faction, said Masing - who holds the social development and urbanisation portfolio - had been given the mandate to nominate candidates for the 107 slots allocated to the party. Of these, 70 will assume office from next month.

Malaysiakini

learnt that both Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his deputy Dr George Chan had endorsed Masing's list.

Anthony Nais, the deputy youth leader in the rival PBDS faction led by Daniel Tajem , said the group had expected this.

"The party submitted its list well before it was de-registered. Leaders, including Tajem, had met Mawan to discuss the matter (the nominations) after the de-registration of the party," Nais said

Change in Sibu

Meanwhile, the Sibu Rural District Council has a new chairperson, James Laju Ambok, who replaces Oliver Kuo of the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP).

Prior to his promotion, James Laju was council's deputy chairperson. He is also Bawang Assan chief in the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

SUPP members in Sibu have openly expressed disappointment with the change, but chief Dr George Chan has tried to soothe ruffled feathers.

He has said that he hoped this would not erode support for the Sibu BN Visionary Team, led by a party leader, Wong Soon Koh.

SUPP retains the chair of the Kuching City South Council, Padawan Municipal Council ,Sibu Municipal Council and Miri Municipal Council.