After JKDMs, now it is JPKKPs
Published on: Sunday, September 08, 2024
By: Clarence Dol
According to Junaidi, JPKKP is a proactive step by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to realise the government’s desire to eradicate extreme poverty at the grassroots level.
RANAU: Hardly has dust over the controversial setting up of JKDMs or Madani Rural Community Committees in Sabah settled, another has surfaced – and like JKDMs also starting in Kinabatangan – called Federal Village Security Management Committees (JPKKPs).
It is unclear whether the move has the blessing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim although the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah State Government is part of the Unity Government.
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Ranau Umno head Datuk Haji Junaidi Sahat said the setting up of JPKKP, here, is needed to “facilitate the government’s affairs in administering a village and mobilising all community activities, besides being a medium for channelling information to the people”.
He also said Ranau is not the first district. The first was in Kinabatangan at the beginning of the year by Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Umno President Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi.
Those appointed to be JPKKP in each village are based on ability and qualification to plan the development of the village.
“They would be the eyes and ears of the government to convey all policies and programmes in addition to being agents to convey local issues, especially related to people’s problems, to the authorities.
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“Those appointed will shoulder great trust and responsibility and expected to play an effective role as planners and implementers of programmes in each village,” he said.
Junaidi, who is also Chairman of the GiatMara Ranau Advisory Committee, was speaking at the presentation of appointment letters to JPKKPs at the Kg Kilimu Village Community Hall, recently.
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According to him, JPKKP is a proactive step by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to realise the government’s desire to eradicate extreme poverty at the grassroots level. The State Government had announced last month that Sabah is now free from hardcore poverty and is monitoring the validity of claims by a group that registered for aid through another channel.
Junaidi acknowledged that the establishment of JPKKPs in Sabah is opposed by several quarters who feel it would divide the people.
He denied this was the intention and that the detractors should not be politicising the JPKKP but thinking about the need for development.
“Once upon a time, many parties opposed the establishment of the Federal Development Department in Sabah (JPPS).
“But the fact is that behind the establishment of this department, the people received an overflow of development projects channelled to JPPS,” he said. JPPs was set up during the PBS administration when the State Government was in the opposition.
He also said there is a difference between the JPKKP and the Madani Rural Community Committee (JKDM) as the latter acts as a complement.
He said, the JPKK and JPKKP play the role of managing and administering a village while JKDM acts to coordinate socioeconomic and entrepreneurship programmes in the area concerned.
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