Ting (fifth left), Bujang (fourth left) and others at the press conference.
SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting calls on business owners to keep the public space in front of their shops clean.
In a press conference yesterday, he said the council’s focus is on keeping Sibu town clean.
He said for now, the council would focus on the Commercial Business District (CBD) area before moving on to the residential areas.
“I should think that the standard is this; every three to five years, the owners of the shops should paint their shops, keep the shop free from vegetation.
“I do understand that it is very difficult for the shop owners to refresh their building, but I am not creating extra burden because this is what they are supposed to do,” he told a press conference after the full council meeting yesterday.
He also said that the shop owners have to maintain and ensure that the five-foot ways are in good condition.
“Five-foot ways is not SMC area. Under the building ordinance, it is a public area and they should keep it free so that people can walk through,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, he said in view of Visit Malaysia Year this year, SMC has carried out some improvement works for public toilets at Khoo Peng Loong Market, Lau King Howe Memorial Museum, Sibu Gateway and single-storey shop houses in Belatok Road.
He said the next target area are the toilets at the Sibu Central Market. He also said SMC would continue to take stern action on litter-bugs.
He said from January to August this year, the council had issued 454 compound notices to litter-bugs.
“We need close cooperation from the public to keep Sibu clean and tidy,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were SMC deputy chairman Cr Bujang Abdul Majid and chairperson of each standing committee.