Don't overreact, councils told

Don't overreact, councils told by R. Surenthira Kumar KUALA LUMPUR: Municipal councillors should not over react to remarks by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk M. Kayveas that they lacked transparency and accountability, operating like "secret societies". Institute of Integrity Malaysia member and Transparency International exco member Josie Fernandez said a random check with the man on the street will show the public do not think highly of local governments. "Councillors need not ask for proof or evidence of their incompetence because there are ample indicators like clogged drains, dirty food stalls, uncollected garbage and construction wastes and illegal business operations, to name a few. "There is also a lack of transparency from administrators and appointed councillors while meetings are shrouded in secrecy with decisions made without feedback from ratepayers," she said, adding she attended one such meeting but was "not allowed" to give her views. "The appointed councillors should stop bragging about complaints centres set up by them for the people. We just want service and work." National Consciousness Movement (Aliran) president P. Ramakrishnan said Kayveas seems to have hit a raw nerve when he criticised the shortcomings of local councils. "Many council projects have ended up in wastage. "A recent example is the case of a local authority in Penang warning motorists that they cannot park their car in bays with defective or missing meters." On local council heads' demand for evidence of the allegations, Ramakrishnan said: "There are several clear examples. Like the tacky `beautification' project at the Udini Road roundabout in Penang. "Last year, the Seberang Perai Municipal Council racked up a huge bill for the weekly supply of freshly cut flowers as part of a five-year contract worth RM1.5 million or about RM5,700 a week," he said, reiterating calls for the restoration of local municipal elections. Transparency International president Datuk Param Cumaraswamy said: "For a very long time, considerable complaints have been levelled against municipal services, such as poor road conditions, traffic lights that do not work ... the list is endless." He said the destruction of the environment, especially green lungs, and improper development activities were concerns that expose the weaknesses of councils. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said an elected council answerable to the people is the only solution to ensure accountability, transparency and corruption-free service by the local councils.