SIBU: The Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) is looking at effective solutions to curb the rampant installation of illegal awnings at commercial
buildings in areas under its jurisdiction.
SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai said those who put up the illegal structures had been issued with warning notices and been told to remove them.
“Like other councils, we are looking into an effective solution to curb the illegal installation of awnings which could pose danger to the people as shown during the strong winds in Kuching and here recently.
“Awnings fell onto cars and were blown away by strong winds,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He was asked whether owners of shophouses and commercial buildings under SRDC’s jurisdiction who had been asked to remove their illegal awnings, had done so.
The council, he added, could act on those found to have erected illegal awnings under Sarawak Building Ordinance 2004 and Building By-Laws.
To another question, Petrus acknowledged that the installation of illegal awnings was quite rampant at commercial buildings in Sibu Jaya.
Recently, Miri City Council (MCC) decided to provide guidelines for the installation of awnings at shophouses and commercial buildings in areas under its jurisdiction.
Miri Mayor Adam Yii said the decision was meant to mitigate the problem of illegal awnings being installed by business owners on their premises.
Yii had advised owners to dismantle the unauthorised structures, especially if they were found to be posing danger to the public.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government might come up with standard guidelines for local councils pertaining to the installation of awnings.
Aassistant minister Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said this was to prevent different councils having different guidelines and formats.
“It would be better for the ministry to come with a standardised format. The ministry can look into this and come up with a standardised guideline for all councils, rather than Miri having its own and Sibu, its own,” he said.