MIRI Mayor Lawrence Lai does not like to dwell on the possibility of him nominated as a candidate in the coming state election.
He said he preferred to remain neutral and discharge his duty as a mayor fairly for all Mirians in line with the theme of the city’s 9th anniversary celebration ‘One Miri, One Community’.
“In as far as being a candidate for any political party is concerned, I would say that I would cross the bridge when I come to it,” Lai told BAT IV here on Tuesday.
On the same note, he also said that he would prefer to remain neutral and would not get involved in any political party.
“Under the current political uncertainties I would prefer to remain neutral and focus on my work as a mayor for all the people living in this city regardless of their political affiliation,” he stressed.
He disclosed that his appointment as a mayor six years ago was through SUPP’s nomination, which was endorsed by the state government.
“I received my appointment letter from the TYT upon the advice of the chief minister,” he said, adding that it would not be fair for him to commit himself either to SUPP or UPP as both parties were now facing uncertainties.
As a mayor, he said he discharged his responsibility by consensus in consultation with the 30 councillors in the city council who had been appointed from the various organisations and political parties.
On another matter, Lai disclosed that Miri City Council had frozen all applications for new
reflexology centres since 2011.
Currently, he said there were only 88 reflexology centres in the city.
“Miri has the least number of these centres compared to other cities and major towns in Sarawak. To ensure that these centres would remain compliant, we would like the police to assist us in monitoring them,” he said.
He admitted that the council had faced many demands from various groups to close down
these centres.
“But we must be fair to those who have invested so much money on these centres and we also know that these centres are not the place where immoral activities take place. From our information, most of these immoral activities take place elsewhere such as the hotels and inns. But we know
most men would get their contacts from the foreign women who work in reflexology centres,” said Lai.
On the other hand, others insisted that Miri as a resort city should not close down these centres as they provided them with a good place to rejuvenate their tired bodies, he added.