Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said Anwar must ensure that the proposed JKDM does not interfere with the operations of the existing village development and security committee (JPKK) in managing and administering villages in Sabah.
Secondly, the JKDM must “only” function as an ombudsman to ensure that Putrajaya’s policies are implemented in an optimum manner.
“These assurances can prevent Anwar from being caught in the crossfire of the demands from two equally influential and interested parties,” Syahruddin told FMT.
On GRS’s rejection of the JKDM, Syahruddin said the committee would not be perceived as partisan if Putrajaya clearly explains the purpose and nature of its role at the village level, alongside the JPKK.
The JPKK, previously known as the village development and security committee, is a grassroots organisation responsible for the administration and management of villages, led by individuals appointed by the state government.
On Tuesday, deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said Sabah would not implement the JKDM as the state government did not want another initiative that would confuse and divide the people.
He also said that as a member of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 technical committee, he had personally asked for the initiative not to be implemented as it was not being implemented in Sarawak.
Upko president Ewon Benedick previously said Sabah had amended the Rural Administration Ordinance for village administration to ensure that the state had only one village management body, the JPKK.
Ewon said if JKDM was a national policy, it should be implemented nationwide.
However, Sabah Umno leaders are defending the initiative, which falls under the purview of the rural and regional development ministry, led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also Umno president.
Analyst Lee Kuok Tiung, also from UMS, said the JKDM had been seen from the start as a politically motivated effort by Umno to penetrate certain areas.
He also said that funds intended for local communities could be channelled through existing government agencies.