KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng is seeking more legal bite to enforce the law effectively in today’s context.
He is thus calling for a review of existing ordinances and regulations.
He said presently penalties are often too lenient, allowing offenders to continue engaging in illegal practices without much consequence.
Wee suggested that penalties be significantly increased to discourage wanton attitudes that amount to offences within its jurisdiction.
“We need to consider heavier penalties, such as a RM2,000 fine or even imprisonment for repeat offences, to effectively curb these violations.
“So these are the things that we need to review,” he said after delivering a talk at the Sustainable Foods International Conference (SFIC) 2024 here Wednesday.
Wee was representing Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Wee stressed the need to review and tighten existing regulations and ordinances to ensure they remain relevant today.
He argued that enforcement should be fair and effective, with penalties that are significant enough to prevent violations.
“For instance, if someone sets up a table outside their business premises without proper authorisation, the penalty should be substantial, not just a token RM1 or RM5, which has no real impact,” he added.
Wee also raised concerns about the current lengthy notice periods given to offenders, which allow too much time for violations to be rectified.
He suggested that these periods be shortened to ensure quicker enforcement action.
“When something is wrong, it’s wrong. There’s no need to give extended timeframes for correction,” he said.
On the same note, the mayor said that while some policies can be amended within the council, larger-scale changes require consensus from other city councils to ensure consistency and enforceability.
Wee emphasised that the goal is not to penalise people but to encourage responsible behaviour and compliance with the law.
