Datuk Wee Hong Seng
KUCHING (Nov 7): All parties should work hand-in-hand with the city hall to implement developments beneficial to the community, instead of casting disapproval towards some of the initiatives via social media, said Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
Wee said it was unfair that some quarters had recently took to social media in criticising the council’s initiative in building a bicycle track in Tabuan Height here, as the project was actually approved in 2018 under 11th Malaysia Plan.
“The council jobs are to propose and implement infrastructure projects that could the lift the standard of living of the people. I sincerely wants to create a better city for the city and I hope certain parties could put a stop in politicking certain issues,” he said during a Facebook live session today.
Wee remarked he had repeatedly stressed in the past that any alternative proposals and constructive feedbacks were welcomed to be provided to the council and he would always respect the political views and demands from any political parties in solving the people concerns.
He said the bicycle track project was part of the efforts to build a healthy city for Kuching and he felt it was uncalled for that certain quarters resorted to tarnish the image of the council for merely fulfilling its job responsibility to score political mileage.
On the occurrence of flash foods in the city recently, Wee said dialogues and meetings had been initiated with Public Works Department (JKR) and Department of Irrigation and Drainage for the past few months to seek the best solutions in resolving the matter.
“There are many factors that resulted in flash floods in the city, including heavy downpour, poor drainage system, nearby ongoing construction projects and illegal conversion of drainage into parking space.”
The mayor appealed for the public to give him more time to address the matter as he had only took on the role of Kuching South mayor for a year and the council had already submitted flood mitigation projects to be considered for the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Nonetheless, Wee urged members of the public to play their own role in adhering to recommended precautionary measures to curb the transmission of Covid-19 in the community.
“No doubt the Covid-19 pandemic is scary but I believe the people must perform their responsibility by following the issued standard operating procedures for the sake of the whole community,” said Wee, stressing anyone suspected to have contact with Covid-19 patients must volunteer to have themselves tested for the virus at health clinic.