Perak govt to reduce number of councillors to cut costs - The Sun

IPOH (June 4): By Humayun Kabir

The Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak state government will reduce the number of councillors in four of the nine districts in the state in order to cut costs.

State Education, Local Government, Housing and Public Transport Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming said the total number of councillors in the state will be reduced from 349 to 333.

Nga said the four districts are Grik, which will have 18 councillors instead of the previous 22, Lenggong 19 (23), Pengalan Hulu 16 (19) and Selama 18 (23).

He said 333 councillors will be selected from the total of 2,600 applicants for the posts.

The composition of the nine councils will consist of 93 members of the public, while PKR and Pas combined will get 119 councillor's seats and DAP will receive 104 seats. The remaining 17 seats will go to the government sector.

The selection of the new councillors will be conducted under section 10 (2) of the Local Government Act 1976 and their swearing-in will be carried out before the end of this month.

Nga said five of the 15 local government councils are facing financial difficulties, and the government will study their shortcomings and take the necessary action to rectify the situation.

He added that all schools in Perak will in future only pay a token sum of RM1 as quit rent