SIBU: It is the daily effort of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to maintain, educate and work with the public and clear rubbish as fast as possible.
SMC’s chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horth pointed out that SMC cannot do this alone but needs the public’s cooperation to keep Sibu clean.
“Next year, we will write to shop owners to paint their buildings and house owners to keep their gardens neat.
“As for those abandoned structures, we need to look at the possibility of demolishing the structures for public safety,” he stated in his address at the SMC’s appreciation dinner reception 2022 held in a leading hotel here on Wednesday night (Dec 28).
Ting said in hawking and market upgrading, SMC will open Muhibbah in February as well as opening Jaya Li Hua Hawker Centre early next year.
As for Sungai Merah market, he disclosed the new market building with the market and hawker centre will be open to the public by the end of 2023, and that the Rejang Park market will be upgraded next year too.
As for parks, he said 2023 will also see the upgrading of Bukit Aup, the upgrading of Permai lake garden with new walking and a brand new three-kilometre cycling track.
“I have always said parks and markets are worthwhile projects as there are more and more people using these facilities.
“SMC will look for more locations in the east side of Sibu namely Lanang and Lada areas to build more parks as those are lacking in such facilities. We hope to look for more funding from the National Landscape Agency to facilitate the implementation of these projects,” he stated.
Earlier in his address, Ting voiced that the year 2022 started with the movement control order (MCO) still in place till April and despite the relaxations early in the year, many restrictions were still in place.
He acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the councillors and staff throughout the MCO even though many of them caught COVID-19 and a few of them succumbed to the dreadful disease.
Nevertheless, he said SMC despite the challenging times managed to be bestowed with certain recognitions such as the prestigious ASEAN Tourism Standard-ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard 2022-24 from Malaysia Tourism Ministry; Gold Award for 10th Premier of Sarawak Environmental Award 2021/22; and 4 Star rating – Premier of Sarawak Award 2022 finalist with results to be announced by next year.
While congratulating all the councillors and staff for their teamwork, he asserted that only by working together will they be able to accomplish even more for the betterment of Sibu.
Meanwhile, he felt that Sibu is coming of age, with the opening of the economic sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I see there are so many new establishments being open monthly especially during these few months, to catch festive seasons ahead. This is a sign of confidence returning and I urge more entrepreneurs to put their faith in our hometown.
“Undoubtedly we continue to face problems, like our soil conditions where development projects are built on and the continuing demands of the public to upgrade the roads and drains.
“We also face traffic congestion therefore the need for road expansions and the building of more new roads. For these we will continue to work with our local people’s representatives and state and federal governments to seek more funding,” he pointed out.
On another matter, he disclosed that the SMC councillors’ appointments have been extended for three more months after December 31.
However, he said quite a few of the councillors who have served more than six years will likely not return.
Thanking them for their services and for working closely with him and the administration to make Sibu a better place, he hoped they will continue to help SMC by informing the Council of the issues.
“I also like to thank Acting Municipal Secretary Yong Ing Choo and his team for working closely with me, Deputy Chairman and councillors during this past year. I look forward to the same cooperation in the coming year,” Ting added.
The event also witnessed, among others, the presentation of Environmental Partnership Awards held in conjunction with Love Earth Day 2022 to Syarikat Sri Minyak Tenaga Sdn Bhd, Persatuan Warga Emas Enoch Sibu and Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia for their outstanding performance.
For their feat in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) category each was awarded a prize of RM500 whereas Junior Chamber International Sibu and KRT Nang Sang Daerah Sibu took the consolation award of RM200 each.
The individual category for outstanding performance in the Environmental Partnership awards was won by Tai Shein Jen and Loh Yu Yee who each took home a prize of RM300.
Lanang MP Alice Lau Kiong Yieng who is also Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau Lee Ming, Sibu district police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili and SMC deputy chairman Bujang Abdul Majid were in attendance at the event.
