KUCHING: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has ticked off the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) for placing conditions to repair potholes at Pulau Li Hua.
His rebuke comes after it emerged that the SMC recently demanded the removal of a self-built security guardhouse there, a structure credited with eliminating crime in the area, before agreeing to repair potholes and maintain other infrastructure.
“They should not use technicalities, such as labelling the guardhouse an ‘illegal structure’, as an excuse to ignore safety concerns and expose residents to unnecessary risks,” he said in a statement.
“It should be understood that the guardhouse was built by the residents when Pulau Li Hua faced frequent crimes, including car thefts, drug abuse, break-ins, illegal street racing, and late-night gathering.”
Since 2017 the residents, he said, have proactively established security measures, investing nearly RM200,000 annually to sustain them.
Tiong also said that the SMC and its councillors must acknowledge that residents pay annual assessments and land taxes, and that the relevant authorities are responsible for maintaining infrastructure.
Tiong who is Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman reminded the council that its foremost duty is to serve the people.
“In the past, service vehicles could access the community to perform maintenance work, and it is disappointing that, after several years, SMC now suddenly claims that cars cannot enter and that the booth violates local regulations, making its removal a condition for repairing potholes in the area,” he said.
Tiong said that the council should recognise that similar guardhouses are common across Sarawak and Malaysia and that both sides should seek a mutually beneficial solution that addresses safety concerns without inconveniencing residents.
“Given the special nature of this guardhouse, which guarantees the safety of the community, I suggest that the Pulau Li Hua Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) formally report its operations to the local police and liaise with the Fire and Rescue Department to ensure that fire engines can access the area smoothly in emergencies,” he urged.
Tiong said that since the guardhouse was established in 2017, the area’s crime rate has dropped to zero, demonstrating its effectiveness, and the community plans to enhance security further by installing a comprehensive surveillance system.
“I understand that SMC may be acting within legal parameters, but we should not forget the Sarawak government’s “people-first” approach.
“Furthermore, with limited police resources and serious security concerns, residents have set up self-protection mechanisms at their own expense without imposing any financial burden on the government or the public.
“Thus, the resulting zero crime rate is something to be commended,” Tiong said.
He hoped the issue with the Pulau Li Hua residents can be resolved before his dialogue next month.
