SOME local councillors in Selangor are allegedly abusing the monthly allowance given to them by the state.
The councillors are supposed to use the money to operate and manage their own service centres with the aid of an office assistant in their respective areas.
Residents claim that some councillors — who have failed to set up the service centres as required by the state — are pocketing the monthly allowances.
An NGO member said the local authorities pay each councillor RM2,500 in monthly allowances that goes for the rental of a premises and salary of the office assistant.
For want of a better place: Tan has converted an abandon ed police beat base in Pusat Bandar Puchong as his service centre. He welcomes the idea of councils providing permanent premises. He said at least three local authorities pay the councillors RM2,500 each.
“The councillors are supposed to rent an office space and hire an assistant to run their service centres.
“All they have to do is produce vouchers of payment to claim the RM2,500. However, this is where the problem lies. The local authorities do not verify if the service centres have been set up and employees engaged,’’ he added
A check by StarMetro showed that six of the total 12 local authorities in Selangor gave monthly allowances to their councillors while others offered office space and staff for them.
The Klang Municipal Council, Selayang Municipal Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, Kajang Municipal Council, Kuala Langat District Council and Hulu Selangor District Council are the six local authorities that offer monthly allowances to their councillors.
Busy day: Selvadurai chatting with a woman as his assistant handles a querry from from a man. The others, Shah Alam City Council, Petaling Jaya City Council, Subang Jaya Municipal Council, Sepang Municipal Council, Kuala Selangor District Council and Sabak Bernam District Council provide premises and staff to their councillors.
Klang Consumer Association president Devadass Anjan said he was sceptical about giving allowances to the councillors as he realised that not all of them had service centres.
He said he had received numerous complaints from the residents who expressed their displeasure over the inefficient service offered by some councillors.
“Some even complained that the councillors are never seen in their areas and that they are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the local representatives.
“I think the council must make sure that the councillors are operating their own service centre before paying them the allowances,’’ he said
He said each councillor must be provided with an office space by the local authorities and the staff for the councillors must be paid by the respective councils.
“This will not only reflect good governance by the councils and the councillors but also provide continuity as new councillors will not have to waste their time looking for another premises and staff.
“I also urge the state to ensure that all the local authorities practise a standard system so that there will be transparency,” he said.
Hulu Selangor District Council president Tukiman Nail said their councillors were allocated with premises by the council and given RM2,000 allowance each.
“The allowance is for them to pay the utility bills and the salary for their assistants since we do not hire the staff,” he said.
While some of the local authorities provide their councillors with permanent service centres that comes with comfortable and cosy environment, there are others who had to make do with makeshift premises such as containers and “pigeon holes” that are not conducive.
Subang Jaya councillor Tan Jo Hann said he was operating his service from two different venues located nearby due to lack of a proper premises.
He said he had converted an abandoned police beat base in Pusat Bandar Puchong as his service centre and turned a 40-foot container into a place to meet the residents.
“I have fixed an air-conditioner inside the container and equipped it will chairs and tables to have meetings. The Subang Jaya Municipal Council has supported my initiative and they have been paying the salary for my assistant,’’ he said, adding that he had made good use of the containers and the beat base but felt that a permanent premises would have been better.
Councillor S. Selvadurai from Klang Muncipal Council said he had fully utilised the RM2,500 allocated to him by the council since he had a service centre and an assistant.
He said his centre which was located at the ground floor of the Port Klang bus terminal complex was well known among residents.
“We receive all kinds of complaints from the people including those who intend to apply for low-cost houses, identity card registration and other services offered by the council.
“I am not aware how many councillors are operating their own service centres but I am fully utilising the allowance given to me for the benefit of people in my zone,’’ he said adding that the council also absorbed the expenses that occurred in setting up the office.
Dorothy Cheong, who is a councilor at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, said she had been operating from a shophouse.
She said she covered the monthly rental and staff salary with the RM2,500 allowance allocated by the council.
“I think the idea of the council providing us with a permanent premises and staff is good,” she said.
Cheong said her centre was furnished and equipped with the support of well wishers from her zone as the council had no budget for such expenses.
MPKj councillor S.T. Chandramohan said the council paid him RM750 on monthly rental and provided an additional RM250 for utilities.
He has an assistant and the council paid her salary on a daily basis.
“I feel it will be good if the council provides the councilors with a permanent office and staff as this will ensure continuity when new councillors are appointed,’’ said the three-term councilor.
MBSA councillor Salimah Lisut said she had been equipped with a cosy office at Section 7 which had a huge hall, a room for herself and adequate working space for her assistant.
She said all the MBSA councillors had been provided with a fully equipped service centre and an assistant.
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