Village heads
asked to uplift communities
HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
yesterday said the utmost important thing for village leaders is to be
committed and work with dedication in serving communities and solving the
hardship of villagers.
Speaking at the second national level Excellent Village Awards (AKC)
function at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Berakas, His Majesty in
his titah said this requires a caring attitude and the penghulus and village
heads should not wait for the villagers to come to them with their concerns.
Instead, they should reach out to the people and the proof of this should be
demonstrated in the services and responsibilities (of the penghulus and village
heads).
"I want this kind of leadership to happen in all mukims and
villages in the country," said His Majesty.
The AKC Scheme is closely related to the penghulu and village head
institution. The evaluation of excellence in villages need to focus on the
aspects of welfare and how penghulus and village heads show concern towards villagers
and their affairs, said His Majesty.
His Majesty also asked the village leaders to win the trust and hearts
of the people as leadership should be comprehensive in all areas, including
economy, education, society and religion.
The best way to do this is through good leadership that can bring about
big changes at the grassroots level and the mukim and village communities must
be able to enjoy the fruits of the leadership, His Majesty said, adding if the
leadership was unable to do this then it would be considered a failure.
"Without good leadership, the interest of the community towards
the leader would fade and turn cold. That is why, I would be disappointed if
there are penghulus or village heads who neglect their own villagers,"
said His Majesty.
"Villagers fall into various categories. Some are well-off and
some less fortunate. There are those who are knowledgeable and some less
informed," explained His Majesty.
Those who are less fortunate or less knowledgeable should be given
priority and more attention because these people are usually the ones who are
more needy, but do not know where to go, said His Majesty.
"For example, if they (the less fortunate or less knowledgeable)
need help, where they should go and what are the procedures? We tell them to go
to Baitul Mal or the Community Development Department (JAPEM). The question is,
how will they get there?".
Another issue raised by His Majesty was regarding writing letters and
filling forms. "If they (senior citizens) do not know how to read and
write, then what?" asked His Majesty.
This is where a penghulu or village heads come into the picture to play
their role, said His Majesty.
His Majesty said the role of a penghulu or village head is not just to
give support or sign the required forms of the applicants, who are then left to
wonder how to reach the relevant authorities.
His Majesty added that sometimes the letters or forms reach the
relevant authorities but many of them are rejected because the applicants do
not fulfil the criteria for eligibility. "How can this happen? It is
because the support of the penghulu or village head is not strong," asked
His Majesty, adding that had they been given more attention to the applications
they would not have been rejected.
Many times applications are rejected because facts (mentioned in the
letters and forms) are either incorrect or inaccurate, said His Majesty and
then asked "Why are the facts not correct or accurate? It is because
information regarding the villager is not complete. In other words, we are not
aware of who our villager really is. If this is true, it this not a form of
neglect?," His Majesty further asked.
"I understand that the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently
refining the structure of the Mukim and Village Consultative Council, including
its members and will focus more on the leadership aspect," said His
Majesty.
"For me, whatever that is planned or made, the main purpose should
be to add value to leadership in the penghulu or village head institution. The
existence of Mukim and village consultative councils would be less meaningful
if leadership of penghulu and village heads is still weak or lack
effectiveness," said His Majesty.
NURHAMIZA HJ ROSLAN
The Brunei Times
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