First Community Empowerment Secretariat to be set up in Penang

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The Housing and Local Government Ministry will be introducing the ‘Community Empowerment Secretariat’ (‘Sekretariat Muafakat Komuniti’ – SMK) at the People’s Housing Project (PPR) nationwide.

State Housing, Town and Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo shared this during a press conference on Oct 1.

“In line with the National Community Policy, the Community Empowerment Secretariat (SMK) will be formed and the staff from the ministry will be placed at the PPR to oversee the community and to engage them in various programmes.

“The Taman Manggis and Bagan Jaya PPR have been selected as the pioneers for the implementation of the programme.

“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the National Community Policy on Feb 17 as an initiative to empower the community,” said Jagdeep after attending the Penang2030 Strategic Initiative Workshop at Cititel Hotel.

“This policy aims to create awareness among the local community in having a sense of belongingness towards public amenities,” Jagdeep said.

According to Jagdeep, the SMK would be a better option than placing police personnel at the PPR as suggested by Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim.

Mazlan had made an announcement on Sept 30 on stationing the police at the PPR in Kuala Lumpur (38 PPR) as a measure to curb crime.

“I think the PPR residents would feel uncomfortable if the police are watching over their activities in their own neighbourhood. They would feel like their freedom is inhibited.

“Not all who live at PPR are involved in crimes. I know of many good people who live at the PPR and they are also poor.

“The state government has always been conducting programmes related to community empowerment with the collaboration of Penang Women Development Corporation (PWDC) at PPR.

“For instance the programmes held at the Sungai Pinang PPR has proven to be a success  in which the issues concerning the community were rectified,’’ added Jagdeep.

Jagdeep said the first SMK would be officially launched by the Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin on Oct 16 at the Taman Manggis PPR.

“Under the SMK, the officers from the ministry will be designing programmes with regard to empowerment and awareness for the residents at the PPR which is more sustainable and friendly than placing the police,’’ he said.

Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan