Tamparuli launches first democratic JKKK elections in Sabah

TAMPARULI (Feb 6): The nomination process for the election of chairpersons and secretaries of the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) across Tamparuli officially began today, marking an important step in implementing grassroots democracy.

Tamparuli assemblyman Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau said the elections form part of the Sabah 17th State Election manifesto, aimed at giving villagers the opportunity to directly choose their community leaders.

He added that the JKKK elections are being conducted simultaneously in 94 registered villages within Tamparuli, making it the first constituency in Sabah to implement democratic JKKK elections.

“We want democracy to be practised down to the grassroots. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that the voices of villagers are respected through a transparent, fair and integrity-driven process.

“The entire election process is being carried out by the Tamparuli Sub-District Office as the official secretariat appointed by the Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB), in collaboration with the Tamparuli UPPM office, to ensure that its implementation is orderly, transparent and conducted with integrity,” he said when contacted by the media following the nomination process.

Observations showed that the nomination process, which began at 9am, proceeded smoothly at the Multipurpose Hall of the Tamparuli Sub-District Office, with a total of 402 nomination forms for the positions of JKKK chairperson and secretary received.

Of these, 25 villages recorded uncontested wins, while two villages received no nominations.

The remaining 67 villages will see contests, with multiple nominations submitted for the positions of JKKK chairperson and secretary.

Madius, who is also Tuaran MP, said the Tamparuli Sub-District Office, as secretariat, will be responsible for managing, coordinating, and monitoring the entire election process, including nominations, campaigning, voting, vote counting, and the announcement of results.

He called on all villagers within the Tamparuli constituency to cooperate fully and participate responsibly to ensure the selection of capable, functional, and effective JKKK leadership.

For the record, the campaign period begins today and will run until Feb 14, while voting, vote counting, and the announcement of results will take place on Feb 15 from 1pm to 4pm.