Bigger role for Rukun Tetangga
By Himanshu Bhatt, The Sun
The federal government is revising the Rukun Tetangga (RT) Action Plan launched in 2006 to give its volunteers more power in mediation and negotiation in societal and racial conflicts.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the move was in line with the government’s focuson safeguarding and fostering communal unity among the races.
He said the revision would help the resolution of inter-ethnic disturbances, such as that in Kampung Medan in 2001, at the grassroots level.
"RT bodies also need to be given bigger roles at hotspots where there are high incidences of crime and drug abuse," Koh said.
"RT volunteers would be given special courses in mediation and negotiation. Any community problems should be resolved at the grassroots level before it becomes a larger issue," he said.
Other new measures include a proposal that RT volunteers who are private sector employees be given at least half a day off when on duty. Civil servants are currently given a day off, Koh said.
Plans are also underway to introduce insurance coverage for RT volunteers who go on patrol, and to replace old equipment at RT centres across Malaysia.
Speaking after launching the state-level National Unity Week at a hypermarket here, Koh noted that only 80% of the 4,227 Rukun Tetangga bodies in Malaysia were currently active.
He said the ministry was studying a plan to increase allocations to RT. RT in Penang had been given a total allocation of more than RM2 million for this year, he said.
On Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan’s suspension from the party, Koh, who is Gerakan president, said he would wait until after the 14-day period that Huan is allowed to submit an appeal before commenting.
He however said Huan should have aired his grievances internally though the party.
Huan was on June 19 suspended for three years by Gerakan’s central working committee for insubordination.
Koh also said the rift between Gerakan and Penang Umno was healing.
