Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo is not impressed with local councillors appointed to the non-political appointee quota for several local councils.

“Even though some of the names released are from NGOs, they (the NGO’s) are not recognised by the residents as their representatives,” said Khir when contacted by Malaysiakini .

khir toyo interview 121207 look The Pakatan-led Selangor government had initially promised - in place of holding local council elections - to allocate 30 percent of local councillor posts to non-political appointees comprising of former civil servants, NGO representatives and professionals.

However, as it was revealed on Thursday, only 25 percent of the state’s 288 councillors in 12 local councillors were non-political appointees.

So far, only two list of local councillors has been made public - Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) - by the Star Metro.

The MPSJ list does not include representatives from resident’s associations. Only a partial list of MBSA councillors have been revealed thus far.

Business, professional community

Khir explained that local councillors with local knowledge were important to enable local authorities to function properly.

Similarly, Khir said that appointing representatives from the business community in local councils was also vital to ensure business-friendly policies are implemented.

“Last time we appointed people from MCA because they are very well networked with the local business groups,” he said.

In addition to representation from residents and the business community, Khir said that it was important that the government ensures a balanced council with a wide ranging expertise comprising of architects, geologist, engineers and businessmen.

“But instead, they have a group of NGOs representatives and activists. They tend to exaggerate matters and oppose everything,” he added.

Protracted delay

Former Subang Jaya assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng urged the Pakatan Rakyat government to stop “playing politics” over the list of new councillors.

“Why must they release the list one by one? They should release all at once. Get on with governing. Local councils are very important and cannot move with these delays,” he said.

On his opinion on the list of local councillors released thus far, Lee accused the state government of filling up the positions with their supporters.

“They are like us - putting our cronies and supporters into local councils. They are doing the same thing which they have criticised us for before,” said Lee, who has served several terms on the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

lau weng san Meanwhile, even a member of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition appears upset over the list of local councillors released so far.

Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San said there appears to be covert efforts to place political appointees in the quota designated for non-political appointees.

“Sad to say, from the list of unconfirmed names reported in the Star Metro (Friday), I notice that there are efforts by a certain party to appoint party members as councillors in MBPJ under the NGO quota,” he said in a press statement today.

“It is my stand that the seven non-partisan nominees should be purely reserved for non-partisan nominees - NGOs and RAs in Petaling Jaya - (or) else it will make a mockery of Pakatan Rakyat”.