KLANG: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor has been consistently advocating for 50% of local councillors in the state to be professionals. The Sultan’s call has been well received by the people of Selangor, who also support the idea. Women Inspiration Association Selangor president Norliza Ismail expressed concerns that having only politicians as councillors could lead to decisions being made for political gain rather than the benefit of the people.
Norliza highlighted that politically appointed councillors may focus more on pleasing their bosses rather than serving the community, as they are often recommended by state assemblymen. Financial planner Mandy Chee suggested a mix of 50% professionals and 50% political appointees for a balanced approach.
Chee, a resident of Bukit Rahman Putra, emphasized the importance of having non-politicians, especially retired professionals, in the councillor line-up to ensure the needs of the people are met effectively. She hoped that the state would follow the Sultan’s recommendation for the well-being of the community.
Santhi Gnanaganesan, a member of a resident’s association in Klang, also supported the idea of having a diverse mix of councillors to address various issues. She believed that resident association presidents should have the opportunity to become councillors to better understand and solve local problems.
Former Selangor executive councillor Datuk Teng Chang Khim mentioned a state circular from 2013 that required one-third of local councillors to come from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Teng highlighted that the circular, which also mandated certain educational qualifications and language fluency, could still be enforced.
Teng, who served as the exco in charge of local councils, emphasized the importance of having a diverse and qualified council to effectively address the needs of the community. Sultan Sharafuddin emphasized the need for a diverse councillor line-up during the 5th Selangor Legislative Assembly, urging local authorities to prioritize professionalism over political affiliations in council appointments.
