Datu Dr Penguang Manggil

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil refused to name the next Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman when The Borneo Post asked him yesterday who would fill the post after Datuk Tiong Thai king stepped down recently.

He said the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will make the announcement soon.

Penguang said the Ministry of Local Government and Housing did not appoint from NGOs to serve as councillors in the new term, adding that councillors were drawn only from the four component parties of the ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

He added the Ministry of Local government and Housing had also barred community leaders from serving as councillors.

Tiong who had been SMC chairman since 2004, clocked out on June 30 this year.

At the swearing-in ceremony in Kuching on Wednesday, all the names of the 31 councillors for SMC, 15 among them newly appointed, were announced, except the chairman.

The council deputy chairman is retired police officer Bujang Zainuddin Abdul Majid, 67, who replaced Rogayah Jamain.

Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC), Sempurai Petrus Ngelai was reappointed as its chairman for the second term and Robert Lau Hui Yew is retained the deputy chairman.