PPR Jalan Sungai Community Contract Press Statement - 17 August 2014
PRESS STATEMENT
17 August 2014
Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting Pilot Project at PPR Jalan Sungai
The Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) pilot project is an initiative undertaken by the Penang State Government and implemented by the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC) in collaboration with Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP).
GRPB's pilot project and the implementation of a Community Contract in PPR Jalan Sungai between MPPP and the Resident Association or Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai (PKPJS) is the first-of-its-kind undertaken at the local government level in Malaysia.
It aims to:-
- Strengthen and transform the two-way communication between the local government and the local community. The local government as service providers and the people as end-users become partners in a systematic process of participation and involvement;
- Better understand the different needs of the local residents disaggregated by age and gender;
- Empower the local residents to voice their needs and to encourage them to actively participate in the planning and decision making on matters that affect them;
- Encourage residents to cooperate and develop a sense of ownership over the facilities and amenities provided for them;
- Emphasize the need for mindset and attitude change amongst the community so that they too become active change agents in the development of Penang; and
- Assist the state government and local authorities in formulating policies and preparing budgets to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.
The pilot project at PPR Jalan Sungai commenced in April 2012 and involved a "bottom-up" approach whereby a consultation process involving the residents took place in four (4) stages:
Stage 1 – Census: A census was conducted among residents from every household to obtain demographic data based on gender, age, occupation and ethnicity.
Stage 2 – Focus Group Discussions: Several focus group meetings and discussions were held with the residents to identify their needs and problems. From the feedback, 6 projects were prioritized and shortlisted as: i) building maintenance, ii) security, iii) cleanliness, iv) parking facilities, v) recreation playground and vi) residents’ awareness-raising programmes.
Stage 3 - Voting on Priorities for Residents in PPR Jalan Sungai: Every resident aged 10 and above were given 5 vouchers with nominal value of RM100 each amounting to a total of RM500 to cast their votes and indicate their priorities. A resident had the option to place all their vouchers under a specific project priority say cleanliness or spread the vouchers amongst the other identified projects. During the three (3) days voting period, a total of 1,160 residents or 69.59 % out of 1,667 eligible voters turned out to cast their vouchers and indicate which project they wanted prioritized.
Stage 4 – Planning and Implementation of Prioritized Projects: Community Cleaning Contract.
Building maintenance and cleanliness were voted in as top priorities by the residents of PPR Jalan Sungai. Consequently, the GRPB team together with the Residents Association came up with the proposal for the community to take over the cleaning contract which until then was awarded to an external cleaning contractor that was appointed by the MPPP.
The residents association was officially registered and named Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai (PKPJS). Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) duly recognized PKPJS and gave their consent for the resident association with the assistance of PWDC-GRPB to enter into a Community Contract to manage the entire cleanliness of the PPR Jalan Sungai. Residents living at the PPR were invited to apply for the position of supervisor and the six available cleaning positions. Interviews were conducted on 26 August and the successful candidates comprising men and women were duly appointed.
To kick start this unique community led initiative, PWDC, through GRPB, has allocated RM70,000 to finance the operating costs for the first 8 months of this cleaning contract which started from September 2014 to April 2014.
It is hoped that through this community contract the residents will start to appreciate the meaning of taking ownership and develop a sense of responsibility towards the upkeep and maintenance of their premises in particular the common areas.
On May 2014, PKPJS was officially recognised by MPPP to be the contractor for the cleanliness program at PPR Jalan Sungai. Today is the launch ceremony to formalise the agreement.
The residents association, PKPJS is determined to make this project a success. If indeed the project proves to be a success this will serve as a wonderful example of decentralisation and people empowerment.
Already a major positive of this contract is that it has created employment for seven residents who live in the community. In essence this means that seven families’ livelihood has been enhanced. There are also plans in the future for other income generating projects to be initiated for the residents of PPR Jalan Sungai.
This Community Contract will be monitored by MPPP’s Valuation Department and the Sungai Pinang state assemblywoman Ms Lim Siew Khim under her JKKK.
This community led initiative represents a major mindset shift for the residents. MPPP as the service provider and the community as service users has through this project enhance their rapport and strengthen their relationship with one another.
Indeed the unique community led cleaning contract represents a major transformation breakthrough that will hopefully set the path for wider people’s participation on matters that affect them in the planning and budgeting process by the local government.
We are also celebrating the renewed and refreshed outlook and imagery that a fresh craft of paint in vibrant colours has given to PPR Jalan Sungai. It is very significant the fresh new look that you see today has come about through democratic process wherein the residents participated in choosing the final paint colour for their flat through a voting process.
MPPP and PWDC also would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of PPR Jalan Sungai who is instrumental in the recognition that we received from the International Observer Participatory Democracy (IOPD) where we got the Special Mention of the International Jury of IOPD 8th ‘Best Practice in Citizen Participation’ award.
Indeed this initial transformation represents the beginning of what we envisage to be a progressive journey that the local community has now embarked on. In order to aid and assist the community further, PWDC have organised and will continue to organise “capacity building” sessions that will provide relevant skills and knowledge. To date, we have organised two workshops on Organisational Basic Skills (Kemahiran Asas Jawatankuasa) and Effective Communication; and workshop on Introduction on and Good Governance. In the pipeline we also have plans to organise workshop on Economic Empowerment (include topic on micro-credit financing); and also a workshop on negotiation skills and presentation skills.
The ultimate objective is the empowerment and social upliftment of the community which in our view will inevitably manifest in greater gender equality and social justice for all.
