Minister :
Y.B. DATO SRI
WONG SOON KOH
Assistant Minister :
YB John Sikie
Tayai (Rural District Council)
YB Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (Environment)
YB Dr Stephen Rundi Utom (Public Health)
Permanent Secretary :
Dr Penguang Manggil
Principal Assistant Secretary : Puan
Susan Loh
Puan Rusmaliza Mat Darus
Organization
Chart
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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE LOCAL
AUTHORITIES
Our local authorities are part and parcel
of the constitutional structure of the State Government and
they are conferred with the powers as prescribed in the Local
Authorities Ordinance, 1996. The Building Ordinance, 1994,
the Protection of Public Health Ordinance, 1999 and various
By-Laws made thereunder. By virtue of the fact that they
are only to exercise their powers within their own respective
areas, indicates that they are only required to deal with
the local affairs.
Being local, they have better local knowledge
and that can contribute towards better efficiency in the
provision of community services. This system therefore enables
the State Government to devote resources more fully to the
provision of major services and to the planning and formulation
of development policy.
Although the local authorities are providing
the various services locally, it should be noted that the
State Government never entirely relinquishes its overall
responsibility for ensuring that such services are properly
and equitably provided.
The supervisory responsibility is entrusted
to the Ministry of Environment and Public Health which is
formed by the State Government to ensure that the local authorities
exercise their powers within the provisions of the laws and
that they do not neglect their responsibilities nor exceed
their jusidiction.
It is also the duty of the Ministry to
secure sufficient funds from the State Government to assist
the local authorities to implement their development programmes.
In addition to this development grant, our local authorities
also receive substantial amounts of statutory grants, both
from the State Government as well as the Federal Government.
In view of the fact that public funds are involved, it is
also the duty of the Ministry to ensure that realistic budgets
are prepared each year by the local authorities and that
their expenditure should fall within the total expected revenue.
In helping the local authorities to perform their duties
and to discharge their responsibilities in a proper manner
and in line with the Government's policies and programme,
the Ministry is fulfilling the obligations entrusted to it
by the State Government.
STATE AND FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP
Since local government is a State matter
and under the Inter-Governmental Committee’s Report,
Sarawak retains a special status when dealing with the Federal
Government on matters relating to local government as against
other States in Semenanjung Malaysia. In view of this special
position, Sarawak is not required to follow the policy formulated
by the National Council for Local Government but on the other
hand the representative of Sarawak in this Council is not
entitled to vote on questions before the Council. (reference
Clause 95E of Federal Constitution).
There are several sections or section
under MOEPH; Administration Section, Legal Section, Development
Section, Rating &
Valuation Section, Human resource Section,Inspectorate Section,
Library Section, Public Health Section and Environment Section.
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