Taren Sunil (third right) and SMC councillers with enforcement officers at the SMC car depot.
SANDAKAN: Owners of unwanted vehicles have been urged not to dump their junk indiscriminately around Sandakan.
Sandakan municipal councillor Taren Sunil Manoharan said it is common to see dilapidated vehicles abandoned on road pavements, at road corners and other unsuitable and prohibited places.
“They are not only an eyesore but also could even cause accidents. It is estimated that there are around 160 vehicles abandoned in the Sandakan area,” noted Taren Sunil who heads the council’s Highway and Public Utilities Committee.
He said the Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) issues notices advising owners to remove them. A grace period of 28 days is given. When they do not respond, SMC will have to remove these vehicles which will then be towed to our depot. “However, towing these vehicles to our depot incurs fees and we are now looking into more efficient and cost effective ways of handling the matter,” he added.
Taren Sunil said vehicle owners should behave in a more responsible manner.
” They should not dump their junk haphazardly for us to sort out,” he said.
He was speaking after he and his fellow councillors paid a site visit to the Sandakan Municipal Council car depot at Mile 2, Jalan Utara. They were briefed by several SMC enforcement staff led by officer Sairin Hj Abdul Rahman on the various matters and problems faced by them. The depot is also facing a shortage of space.
Taren Sunil expressed confidence that his committee will be able to sort out the issues and other challenges in due course.