KOTA TINGGI: All 70 new village development officers nationwide have received termination letters from the Local Government Development Ministry in an abrupt manner, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said that it was an unfair move and was not in line with the spirit of the unity government.
"The ministry should have at least had some discussions instead of making such a sudden decision.
"I was shocked to see such letters being issued to the officers so suddenly. I thought that since we are within the unity government, those in charge would have had consultations and discussions or at least informed us about it.
"The spirit of togetherness under the same unity government should be reflected better. For them (officers) to receive such a notice is grossly unfair," he told the press when met after launching the Training of Trainers workshop here in Desaru.
He said the new village development officers (Pegawai Kemajuan Perkampungan or PKP) post had been around since the 1970s to look after some 614 new villages nationwide.
"Was that a Cabinet decision or just purely administrative (to terminate)?
"The post is not one that has just recently been around, it has been here for years. Their roles are to plan, monitor and supervise all the developments, projects and activities of the new villages," he said.
He said that Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon has been trying to meet with the Local Government Development Minister for the past two months to discuss the new villages in the state.
"Ling, who is in charge of the new villages in Johor, has been seeking an appointment from the minister for the last two months but has not received any news.
"Perhaps he is too busy but at least send someone over so that these matters could be discussed properly," he said.
Meanwhile, Ling said that he was shocked and utterly disappointed to find out about the termination letters where the officers were told to vacate their position by April 14.
"We are in a unity government and the relevant parties should act in accordance with the spirit of unity instead of coming out with policies that are unfair and based on the minister's own political view.
"Is there a need to treat the officers, who are also social workers, in such a manner without even discussing it?" he said in his speech earlier.
