EWON: SABAH SHOULD TAKE OVER GOVERNANCE OF POVERTY HOUSEHOLD REGISTRY

KOTA KINABALU: Kadamaian State Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick suggested that the state government take over the governance of the poverty household registry in Sabah.

He said, in this case, the federal government could contribute in the forms of allocations and related programmes according to the mould outlined by the State Government.

“I believe a study has been implemented by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Sabah on the e-Kasih register and whether efforts all these while have been effective in bringing the participants out of poverty.

“I suggest that the IDS hold a briefing for all State Assemblymen on the findings of the research so that we can all co-operate and then fight together to bring the people out of poverty,” he said when delivering a debate speech on Budget 2021, at the State Assembly, here, yesterday.

Ewon said the issue of poverty was still one of the big challenges for the state government.

“We are aware of the continuous efforts implemented to help lift the people out of poverty. We are also aware of the centralisation of the poverty register under e-Kasih which is under the governance of the federal government.

“Therefore, I suggest that the state government take over the governance of the poverty household registry.

Meanwhile, Ewon also suggested that the state government reintroduce the Rural Administration (Sabah) Ordinance by making amendments according to current needs.

“The ordinance touches on the Powers and Duties of Native Chiefs and Village Heads, Legal Procedures and Central Government Powers in Rural Areas.

‘’This ordinance was made on Dec 6, 1951 but I think it is still relevant and can be amended according to today’s situation and needs, “he said.

Ewon also suggested that the state government set a name for the village level governance so that it did not need to be changed every time the federal government changed its policies.

He said, in less than three years, the governance at the village level has been rebranded several times, starting from the Village Development and Security Department (JKKK) to the Village Community Management Council (MPKK) and now the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK).

“I suggest that we gazette (the name of the) village level governance body in this State Assembly so that there is no need to change every time the federal government changes its policies.

‘’We need to be consistent at the Sabah state level in such matters because the change in the name of the village governance has many implications for the village administrators, “he said.