Temenggong Lee Sie Tong
MIRI: The state government has resolved quite a number of issues of late, such as refunding excess land lease renewal premiums, and as such the people should be thankful.
Newly-appointed chairman of Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Temenggong Lee Sie Tong, who said this, also took his hat off to Senadin assemblyman Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
“We want to thank the state government for its help. Special thanks go to Datuk Lee Kim Shin for his assistance and hard work for Mirians,” Sie Tong told a press conference here yesterday.
Sie Tong, who was appointed a Temenggong, early this year, said of immediate concern to MCCCI right now were shopowners in the city who had yet to get their refund of land premiums.
“Most of the landowners in the city have received their refunds, and this is to the credit of the state government and our representative Datuk Lee.”
It was reported on Thursday that RM4.4 million in premiums would be refunded to 340 landowners, while RM4.77 million had been refunded to 168 landowners last year.
The new land lease renewal premium rates were announced on May 26, 2007, and updated Feb 4, 2009. It allowed for renewal anytime, subject to prevailing conditions.
On another matter, Sie Tong said Miri needed to live up to its name as a resort city. At present, he lamented that it still had many shortcomings despite the fact that many leaders had done their best to promote the city.
“We need more feedback from stakeholders to come up with ways to help the city achieve its vision of becoming a premier resort city of Sarawak,” said Sie Tong, who cited tourist destinations like Mulu and Lambir national parks as the city’s main lure
for visitors, especially foreign ones.
He said there needed to be greater collaboration among all the parties involved, and better infrastructure and accessibility to tourist spots.