SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) is pleased that as at Dec 26 it has collected over RM35 million in assessment rates.
In announcing this, its chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King said the figure constituted 94.59 per cent of their targeted collection this year.
“Furthermore, we collected 29.14 per cent of arrears amounting to RM1,291,853.46. We wish to attribute the remarkable collection to the ratepayers for their full support and cooperation.
“Your assistance will help the council to continue providing municipal services to the people,” he said at the full council meeting at its premises here yesterday.
On licences due to expire by Dec 31 this year, Tiong who is also former Dudong assemblyman advised all licensees to renew them immediately, saying SMC would not issue reminders.
“The onus is on the licensees to renew before the expiry date. The council will not hesitate to issue show cause letters as to why their licences should not be cancelled,” he stated firmly.
On the strict enforcement of licence conditions, he said the council had to do so to ensure the town was clean, tidy and hygienic.
From Jan 1 next year, licensees failing to comply with the conditions would be issued with compounds and show cause letters if they continue to flout the regulations and risk having their licences revoked, he warned.
Tiong also said SMC provided many motorcycle parking lots around shop houses, many of which were installed with anti-theft metal bars.
“However, parking of motorcycles on five-foot ways has become more rampant lately, causing obstruction to pedestrians.
“We would like to warn shops dealing with sales and repairs of motorcycles to refrain from occupying five-foot ways.
“With effect from Jan 1, 2015, the council will start to compound all motorcycles parked on five-foot ways. The public are also urged to inform SMC should they find any such illegal parking,” he said.
Tiong also announced that Sibu town square phase II (opposite Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum), areas around new shop houses opposite Paramount hotel, Lorong Wong Tiing Hock 1 and 3, Sg. Merah; the whole of Suria Permata Commercial centre and Jalan Pahlawan (new commercial area around Lorong Sena) as the new areas to be imposed with parking fees from Jan 2 next year.
On the proposed Jalan Lau King Howe, Tiong said the council was disheartened that the proposal had been repeatedly politicised.
“Such politicking will only complicate and delay the proposed naming. While the council acknowledges the signature campaign, we will also respect the wishes and aspirations of various races and communities in Sibu.
“An amicable solution can only be reached if everyone could be more sensitive to the feelings of the various local communities and be more patient since the said road is still closed for new commercial development,” he explained.
On the 2015 countdown, he pointed out that it had to be toned down as a mark of respect for the missing Indonesia AirAsia aircraft and the flood victims in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said the countdown would include a minute of silence for the victims of the aircraft.
There would be no display of fireworks at the Sibu Town Square, he added.