Lo (seated centre at left) and MPP deputy chairman Dato Ahmad Ibrahim (on his left) during the meeting with the councillors and staff members.
KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has collected RM12. 8 million in assessment rates for the first half of this year.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, who is also MPP chairman, said such amount was achievable due to the high commitment level among the ratepayers.
“Our assessment rate collection has been very encouraging over the years – it’s achievable due to the commitment of and cooperation from the taxpayers in carrying out their responsibility,” he told reporters at the MPP yesterday, after chairing what he termed as ‘a special full council meeting’.
Lo also expressed his hope for the ratepayers to continue working closely and cooperating with the council in paying their assessment rates on time, which would enable the council to bring development into areas under its jurisdiction.
He also said MPP had always managed to collect about 95 per cent of the assessment rates every year, approximately amounting to RM22 million.
“Plus the annual assessment rates, we have a total revenue of about RM32 million every year,” he added.
On property development in MPP areas, Lo said the sector exhibited an annual growth rate of between four and five per cent.
“The growth of properties like residential and commercial units, continues at between four and five per cent every year and this is a healthy development,” he pointed out.
On another matter, Lo said there was still much to be done in bringing more developments into MPP areas to meet the people’s aspirations and expectations.
In view of this, he assured everyone that that he would work harder together with his staff and councillors in steering MPP to greater heights.
On the Batu Kawah Waterfront, he said the project would be constructed in five phases, adding that RM5 million had been allocated for the first phase.
He also said a park would be built along Jalan Batu Kawah to become a recreational spot for the people.
In his address to the councillors, he said they must be aware that being under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government, they ought to disseminate government policies and development agenda to the people, factually and accurately.
For the new term, 13 of MPP’s total 30 councillors are new faces.
In his reminder, Lo called upon all of them to be on the ground where they could hear, understand and solve the issues and problems faced by the people.
Additionally, Lo thanked Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, and Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, for the trust and confidence entrusted in him to continue to lead the MPP.