What happened to 25% NGO Councillors ?

PROTEST THE REDUCTION OF NGO COUNCILLORS IN SELANGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

12^th July, 2010, Selangor State Assembly , Shah Alam . , 1 pm

Today PSM joined several NGO’s and NGO councillors to submit a memorandum to the Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid bin Ibrahim. Even though PSM is campaigning for the return of local government elections, but we have supported civil society recommendation to appoint at least 25% of its 24 councillors in each PBT from NGO’s activist.

The Pakatan agreed to this in 2008 and duly appointed NGO councillors in Jun that year .While the PR State governments have not made any significant step forward towards bringing back the third vote, but they have accepted this move as an interim measure before Local Government elections are truly held.

But now, the appointment of Selangor councillors is flawed and has taken a step backwards. Unfortunately, since 2009, the 25% quota for NGO’s has been filled by PR political party members. Some claim to be NGO but are actually party members and at the end of the day will abide by party decisions. This is a step backward as non poltical independent councillors whom served since 2008, were removed and replaced with political ones in the new line up for the term 2010/2011. This will drive the council down to serve as a ‘yes man’ body echoing Pakatan Rakyats needs and desires !

Where are the independent councillors whom can provide a check and balance without any political interference?

Thus , PSM fully supports the call by NGO’s today , led by the Coalition of Good Governance and Coalition of NGO& Professional Appointed Councillors ( CONPAC) to ;

Ensure that the 25% NGO quota is maintained and is filled with credible NGO councillors NOT political proxies·

Draw in CGG into consultation process with State Government in the selection process of NGO councillors.

Institutionalize Civil Society –State engagement

Transparent assessment of councillors·

Current list of NGO councillors appointment for the term 2010/2011 to be reviewed ,presented and discussed

with NGO(CGG) first before finalising .