Sempurai (right) congratulates the newly sworn-in councillor – Collin, while Justani is at Sempurai’s right.
SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) warns of stern action against errant ratepayers, as it targets to reduce the arrears of its accumulative assessment rates of RM2.1 million as at Jan 1, 2019. Its chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai issued this warning in his communication during the full council meeting here yesterday.
“SRDC during its monthly standing committee meeting have been informed by the valuation section on the arrears of the assessment rate owing to the council.
“Currently, council has listed 33 commercial building owners, 27 industrial owners and 259 residential owners, who failed to pay their assessment rate for more than 10 years.
“All those arrears listed by the council are more than RM1,000 to the highest of RM80,000. With the arrears of RM2.1 million as at Jan 1, 2019, council will take stern action against the errant ratepayers to ensure the council can use this fund for the municipal services,” he highlighted.
Sempurai revealed that actions taken by council include lodging a Caveat on the errant assessment defaulters, issuing Legal Notice of Demand and considering (to) institute Foreclosure Proceeding.
“If all these measures still fail to get the errant defaulters to pay their assessment rate, then council might opt for listing their names and company names in the mass media.
“We cannot give any more leeway as council has given the defaulters ample time and opportunity to pay their arrears including the offer made by the Ministry (of Local Government and Housing) last year to waive the surcharge for those who pay within certain time frame,” he asserted.
He also touched on the cleanliness of the food premises like coffee shops within SRDC’s jurisdiction. He added that the council will be conducting grading on the coffee shops and eatery premises soon.
“I wish to emphasise that council will not compromise with eateries which are dirty.”
Meanwhile, prior to the full council meeting, a new councillor Collin Tinting (SUPP) was sworn-in to replace a candidate who rejected his appointment he is already Tuai Rumah (headman) of a longhouse, he disclosed.
Collin hails from Rumah Anjat Menyan and with his appointment, SRDC now have full 32 councillors, according to Sempurai.
Also present were SRDC deputy chairman Robert Lau Hui Yew, Secretary Justani Joni, administrative officer/assistant secretary Hiu Kee Sing, council engineer Jacky Tiong, councillors and senior staff.