SIBU: Despite the lack of development grants, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) continues to serve the people by ensuring that the town is clean, beautiful and safe.
SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King told the full council meeting yesterday that 2012 had been a fruitful year for the council.
He added that the council spent about RM8.64 million in 2012 to repair and upgrade roads and drains.
It also spent about RM2.79 million for road verge and drain maintenance, RM4.2 million for street lighting and RM6.93 million for waste management.
“SMC vows to continue the maintenance work within our means and resources.”
Tiong said to ensure a clean and orderly town, the council had impounded 663 stray dogs, 10,264 compounds were issued
for illegal parking in town, and 3117 compounds were issued for littering.
In ensuring a safe city, the council had worked very closely with the police and other government departments and NGOs.
Among the initiatives include manning more than 50 units of CCTVs under the Urban Surveillance Programme in the town area with the police, installation of bollards to segregate pedestrians from motor vehicles, and installation of more street lights.
He said the council had also helped to promote culture, arts, sports, and tourism through various activities such as Cubprix, Taman
Jubli Bukit Aup Run, Borneo Cultural Festivals and Borneo Talent Award.
The team’s innovative ideas had earned the council some recognition in 2012.
Among the awards received were 4-star rating by federal local government for 2010/2011, third placing for Best Service Counter Award in the state, Gold Award in the National Quality Environment Convention and certification by Malaysia Productivity Centre (MPC) for its 5S implementation.
“The council has established more friendship cities in 2012 to expand our international networking in addition to Ningde City and Fujian Province.”
He said the council had signed MOUs with Gu Lou District, FuQing City, MingQing County, Gutien County, QingHe County,
Hebei Province and GuangNing County.
“We hope to plan and work out more strategic alliance with all the friendship cities for mutual benefits.”