KOTA KINABALU: The Local Government and Housing Ministry has been urged to increase the allocation for the new Putatan District Council.
“As a young district council of merely three years old, the district council is already hampered by various issues that are difficult to address without the necessary budget and amenities,” said Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin during the swearing-in ceremony and the handing over of appointment letters to members of the Putatan District Council at Sabah Oriental Hotel near here, yesterday.
He added that the Putatan district was undergoing intensive development and that this development was not matched with the allocation that had been allocated to the district council.
“We’re faced with an increasing population and new housing areas being developed. Our roads are narrow and congested, and on top of that, we’re the gateway to the city, Kota Kinabalu, receiving visitors from our neighbouring Brunei Darussalam and Sarawak …it is a challenging task, and we urge the Local Government and Housing Ministry to consider whatever requests we make to the ministry,” he said.
He, however, called on members of the district council to continue working to the best of their capabilities and to use the existing manpower to the fullest and with undivided commitment.
“We have a great challenge in terms of both the lack of allocation and manpower,” he said.
He then described Putatan as a district that has a bright potential in the future.
“It is an alternative town to the city; it also serves as the gateway to the city. So it is an attractive venue because tourists and workers from the city will flock to the town. Those heading towards the city will also go through this district. It is attractive and has huge potential to the population, commercial, tourism, agro and so on. One of the fastest districts to develop shall be Putatan,” he said, describing the district.
Meanwhile, the sworn-in members of the council consist of Haji Arsit Haji Sedi, Haji Abdul Kahar Haji Mohd Zain, Salmah Said, Hamdan Suarah, Shahhelmey Yahya Ahmad Shah, Chu Wing Siew @ Henry Chu Andiu, George H. Doudilim, Assan Nasip, Haji Baisul Khan Salman Farish, David Lo Vui Nyen, Stephen L. Sondoh, Liew Lee Siam, Tony Mojigoh, Ngu Woo Dung and Lilin @ Helen Palait.
In his speech, Yahya urged the re-appointed members for the session January 2013 to June 2013 to perform their duties and responsibilities and ensure the goals and aspirations of the local authorities were achieved.
He added that members of the council were the legislative policy makers who would consider and approve policies, by-laws, budget estimates, while aiding the executive management which acted as the policy implementers.
Hence, the close relationship between the legislative and executive body was crucial to achieve socio-economic development, he said.
He further added that the role of the council members were to develop the Putatan District Council as an efficient and capable local government that would channel the development programmes to the local community.
“As a legislative policy maker to the main agency which provides services to the community, it is the responsibility of the Putatan District Council members to ensure the council could implement an efficient, fast and customer friendly delivery system endowed with integrity.
Also present at the event were Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Edward Yong and Putatan District Officer Abdul Ghani Pg Yusoff.
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