Parties don't have final say over Johor village heads, says exco

Free Malaysia Today

14 hours ago

State exco Zahari Sarip said Rengit assemblyman Puad Zarkashi's claim that community leaders were appointed based on the preferences of party division heads was inaccurate. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : The selection of village heads in Johor undergoes a rigorous multi-level screening process and is not based solely on recommendations from political leaders or division chiefs, said a state executive councillor.
Zahari Sarip, who handles rural development matters, described as inaccurate a claim by Rengit assemblyman Puad Zarkashi that community leaders were appointed based on the preferences of party division heads.
The selection of village heads is overseen by the district office and involves screening by various agencies, including the police, with input from the local community, said Zahari.
'The selection committee is chaired by the district officer, with related departments conducting interviews with the candidates,' Zahari told FMT. 'Candidates who score highly are referred to the state, but we still vet them further, including checking their community involvement. The notion that political parties make the final decision is simply not accurate.'
He was responding to Puad's call for the Johor government to overhaul the village head appointment system.
Puad's call followed the Johor state assembly speaker's suggestion that appointments be made based on performance, not political connections. The speaker also proposed forming a special committee to ensure only those who are truly committed are appointed to represent local communities.
Zahari, who is Segamat assemblyman, said that not all appointees are from Barisan Nasional. 'I can't disclose specific areas, but it's not true that we only appoint from BN. There are village heads from other parties as well,' he said.
'That said, we take all complaints seriously and are considering expanding the selection committee to better reflect voices from various levels of society.'
Committed despite low allowances
Asked about the low allowances received by village heads, Zahari acknowledged that the compensation does not reflect the weight of their responsibilities. 'That's why we've consistently raised this with the federal government, urging them to increase the monthly allowance from RM1,200 to at least RM1,500,' he said.
'I've also reminded village heads not to use the low allowance as an excuse not to carry out their duties. If they're unwilling, they can resign – but thankfully, most continue to perform well.'
He added that starting this year, the state government has also begun making Socso contributions for all 677 village heads to ensure they are protected while serving their communities.