Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru) today questioned the constitutionality of the government’s move in forming the Residents Representative Committee (JPP) with an allocation of RM63 million.

NONESim (right) said the function of the JPP as listed by Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan was similar to that of the local councilors.  

“We suspect that the federal government is trying to centralise its powers by forming the JPP who are in fact ‘federal councilors’. This could be seen as an attempt to usurp or seize the local councils’ powers.

“The formation is probably unconstitutional as local councils come under the purview of the state governments. I urge the local councils and state governments to take such matters into serious consideration. We urge the state governments to fight this and challenge it in court if it comes to the point of violating to the constitution,” the Bayan Baru MP said in a press conference.

Also present were Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru), Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) and Kasturi Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan).

NONETakiyuddin (left), who was the Kelantan PAS government exco member for housing and local government, said the federal government’s action is similar to the formation of the Federal Development Department where the director acts as the state secretary on behalf of the federal government.

This, he added, is against the federal constitution where Schedule 9 states that local governments are under the jurisdiction of the state governments.

Sim said he noticed there is not much debate on this federal government initiative by the state governments.

He pointed out that according to the minister, the formation of the JPP followed Umno and BN’s losses in urban areas in the recent general election.

“Hence, with this the JPP would concentrate in local councils where Pakatan Rakyat forms the state government. This shows the federal government does not respect the mandate given by the people who have elected the opposition.

“The federal government should not encroach on the powers of the state governments,” he emphasised.