Editorial : After the Horse Trading, the Real Work Begins

The horse trading has ended. Quietly, almost ritualistically, the list of 24 councillors for the Subang Jaya City Council has been finalised, at least according to what is circulating through the grapevine.

What is known so far is not who made the cut, but the scale of change. Roughly half the council is expected to comprise new faces, replacing those who will not return for the 2026 to 2027 term. Some have chosen to step aside. Others, by all accounts, were eased out after failing to perform. The hope now is simple and urgent. That those coming in will do better.

Yet the process remains cloaked in secrecy. The list has not leaked. The names are being held tightly by the powers that be. So tightly that even sitting councillors who are hoping for an extension of their term are said to be completely in the dark about their fate.

This opacity raises a larger question. If councillors themselves are left guessing until the final moment, what does that say about accountability to the public they are meant to serve?

Councillors are not ceremonial appointments. They are not political consolation prizes. They sit at the heart of local governance. Their decisions shape neighbourhoods, public spaces, development approvals, traffic flow, cleanliness, animal welfare and quality of life. When they fail to perform, residents feel it immediately. When they do their job well, the city works quietly and efficiently.

If underperforming councillors have indeed been replaced, that is welcome. But renewal alone is not reform. New faces mean little if the same culture of silence, detachment and inaccessibility continues.

As the new term approaches, residents should not only ask who the councillors are, but whether they understand what is expected of them. The real test begins not with appointment letters, but with day one on the job.

Subang Jaya does not need councillors who disappear after being sworn in. It needs councillors who show up, listen, question, and act. Anything less would mean that the horse trading may be over, but the cost will once again be borne by the people.

Basic Duties of a Councillor in MBSJ

A councillor in the Subang Jaya City Council is expected to carry out several core responsibilities, including:

1. Represent residents
   Act as a bridge between the community and the council by raising residents concerns, complaints and proposals in council meetings.

2. Attend council and committee meetings
   Participate actively in full council meetings and assigned committees where policies, approvals and local issues are deliberated.

3. Oversee local development and planning
   Scrutinise development proposals, planning applications and projects to ensure they align with regulations and community interests.

4. Monitor service delivery
   Ensure municipal services such as waste management, drainage, road maintenance, landscaping and public amenities are properly delivered.

5. Engage with the community
   Be accessible to residents through site visits, dialogues, town halls and direct engagement rather than remaining distant or uncontactable.

6. Uphold governance and integrity
   Act ethically, avoid conflicts of interest and ensure transparency and accountability in council decisions.

7. Support enforcement and public welfare
   Work with enforcement departments on issues such as illegal structures, hygiene, animal welfare and public safety.

8. Advise the mayor and council administration
   Provide feedback, local insights and constructive criticism to improve policies and administration.

At its core, a councillor’s role is simple to describe but demanding to fulfil. Serve the public interest, not personal or political comfort. Subang Jaya residents deserve nothing less.