Penang is not in favour of the federal government's move to form the Residents’ Representative Committees (JPP) come May to strengthen relationship with urban residents.

The setting up of the JPP comes after the setting up of the Federal Village Development and Security Committees (JKKP) and coordinator positions since 2008 following BN's lost in Penang.

The JKKP is often seen as redundant as it duplicates the function of the state village development and security committees (JKKK), while coordinators are appointed by the Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister's Department to look after constituencies which BN had lost although these areas already have elected state assemblypersons.

A new batch of coordinators, however, is yet to be appointed.

State Pakatan Rakyat leaders have described the new initiative as "politically motivated" and questioned the necessity of such formations when similar functions already exist in the state.

Penang executive councillor on local government and traffic management Chow Kon Yeow ( left ) said the state government had expressed it's disagreement over the JPP, but the federal government insists on the matter.

Chow said this yesterday at a press conference, after attending the National Council on Local Government meeting in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

"They say the JPP will function as the bridge between the people and government, but it concerns only issues under federal jurisdiction such as police, hospital and immigration matters," said Chow, who is state DAP chairperson.

"I spoke in the meeting to reinforce our stand that we do not agree with it.

"The state government has no power to oppose it but still see is as another political programme and structure that target the grassroots."

‘Attempt to grab power in state’

Chow, also Padang Kota assemblyperson, said the state government does not have any role to play in the JPP as the chairperson of the committee would be appointed by the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry.

The secretary and other members of the committee would be appointed by the ministry's chief secretary, he added.

"Previously, the state-appointed JKKK only served the rural area, so they said the JPP will then take care of the urban areas, but in Penang, we have already expanded the JKKK to cover the urban area since 2008," he explained.

He explained that over 200 JKKK had been formed in the whole state and these committees play a vital role even in urban areas like Komtar and Padang Kota.

"So why do we still need the JPP?" he asked, questioning the need for the committees to exist in 24 zones when the state has already appointed local councillors for the same areas.

PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin ( right ) had also questioned the need for such “federal councillors".

"It appears like the federal government's attempt to grab power in the state," Sim quipped.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had introduced the committee during the tabling of Budget 2014 last year. where RM63 million has been allocated for the setting up of 148 JPP throughout the country.

On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who chaired the National Council on Local Government meeting, approved the setting up of the committees nationwide, except for Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Putrajaya Corporation and Labuan Corporation, which already have similar bodies known as Urban Wellbeing Representative Councils.

Each JPP comprise of 10 members, including a chairperson, a secretary and eight committee members.

The chairperson of committees in city councils and municipalities will be paid a monthly allowance of RM800 while the secretary gets RM400.

For committees in district councils, the chairperson will be paid RM500 and the secretary, RM250.