By Danial Dzulkifly
KLANG, Feb 2 — Klang mayor Datin Paduka Noraini Roslan has urged newly appointed Klang Municipal Council (MPK) local councillors to take a leading role in shaping local policies and fostering unity among communities as the local council readies itself to become a city.
Addressing the newly sworn-in council members, she emphasised the importance of their involvement in different aspects of Klang’s progress and their responsibility to serve the public effectively.
She said the council members would also be assigned to new committees, separate from their roles in serving their respective constituents, adding that the local councillors are expected to work together to ensure policies are effectively implemented.
“InsyaAllah, there are only two days left before Klang officially becomes a Royal city on February 5. As a mature and substantial organisation, there is a pressing need to improve public service and governance, and the newly appointed councillors will be assigned to various permanent committees to address these needs.
“To ensure good public service, the local council plans to realign the assigned zones for each councillor based on the updated electoral boundaries within the 23 administrative zones under the Klang City Council,” said Noraini in her address to welcome the new local councillors who took their oath of service to serve as MPK members today at MPK’s headquarters, here today.
A total of 15 council members were sworn in, with four positions filled by members from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan), eight from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and two from Amanah.
Besides the oath-taking ceremony, Noraini also chaired the local council’s first full board meeting, which council members and department heads attended.
In addition to the council members’ roles in implementing government policies and enacting local by-laws, Noraini also highlighted their role in representing the constituents.
“You must be the people’s voice and represent them to the best of your ability. Councillors must also be very self-aware, especially on issues involving communal relations.
“You must remain neutral and refrain from taking sides to protect community ties,” Noraini said.
Ahead of the ceremony to declare Klang as a city on February 5, which will be officiated by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, the mayor said she hopes the event will proceed smoothly.
Noraini was appointed as Klang’s first mayor on January 3 for a two-year term.
She served as the MPK president for two terms from 2022 and was also Subang Jaya’s first mayor, overseeing its transition into a city in October 2020.
Klang is set to become Selangor’s fourth city, a status already conferred to Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Subang Jaya, following the Cabinet’s agreement in July last year.
The Federal government’s decision for Klang to become the country’s 20th city was based on its sustainable income and population of 1.1 million, with MPK boasting an annual revenue of over RM100 million.
