By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, June 20 — Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari is urging for the formation of a local government service commission to address the perennial issue of power abuse by long-serving division heads and officers.
He noted that unlike mayors, presidents and council members who are rotated every few years, directors that are appointed directly by the respective local governments typically stay in office for extended periods that could last over a decade.
This, he pointed out, has allowed for individuals in those positions to abuse their power for personal gain.
“These directors and the likes are hired based on closed appointments, and they will stay there for dozens of years, unlike council presidents. These are what we call ‘Little Napoleons’,” he said during a live TikTok session hosted by Media Selangor last night.
To avoid this, Amirudin said it is incumbent that a local government service commission be set up to oversee the appointments and rotation of division directors and officers.
He said he had conveyed his proposal to then housing and local government minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, and again to the current post holder Nga Kor Ming in a recent meeting, and hoped the matter would be taken up.
“This is perhaps the solution to this problem. It’s not only happening in one location, but is widespread. And even if it doesn’t exist in certain councils, the perception is there. The only way is to make changes.
“If the federal government doesn’t want to do it (set up the service commission), then the state will. At the very least, we can ensure that officers are rotated from time to time and that they don’t plant their roots in a particular division.”
Amirudin said this in response to a question on the existence of alleged “cartel” within Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), resulting in issues of disintegrity, corruption and incompetence.
Previously, in September last year, it was reported that two MBSA officials were among three individuals arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) believed to be in connection with a state government project.
Shah Alam Mayor Dato’ Zamani Ahmad Mansor had also then confirmed that the council headquarters was raided by the anti-graft agency.
In 2020, an MBSA enforcement director was nabbed by MACC as part of its investigation into allegations of a protection racket being run involving illegal businesses in Sungai Buloh.
The agency, however, did not pursue the case due to a lack of evidence and instead suggested MBSA take disciplinary action.
On a separate matter, Amirudin proposed that all future housing projects in the state should allocate a specific area for hawkers to conduct business.
He said this is to address the issue of traders setting up stalls on illegal locations such as roadsides, possibly causing congestion, pollution and endangering lives.
“We need a policy whereby new housing projects must have an area for hawkers, and which should also provide basic facilities like water and electricity.”
