KOTA KINABALU: A total of 2,806 new village chiefs will be appointed in Sabah as the state government officially terminates the service of the existing ones.
Law and Native Affairs Assistant Minister Jannie Lasimbang said a one-month notice has been issued to the current village chiefs effective August 1, where the new ones are expected to start working as soon as September.
Village chiefs are the first batch of community leaders to go through the change, in a bid to do away with political appointments, with native chiefs, district chiefs, Chinese kapitans and the likes to follow suit.
“We have to do it in stages so that there will still be people working and referred to.
“While there are 2,806 village chiefs (in the state record), some have passed away; so we have issued letters to over 2,700 individuals.
“There are various criteria in the selection of the new chiefs, but we are also trying to give priority to retired community leaders like district officers.
“At the same time, I would like to see more women representation, not just village chiefs, but other positions as well,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the state assembly sitting.
She added that there could be less than five percent women village chiefs at present.
On the appointment procedures for the new village chiefs, she said there would be a screening system for candidates in a committee chaired by the district officer.
“They might be new (and) have no experience in administration, but they understand the customs,” she added.