KUCHING: The newly-appointed Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai is ready for various new challenges in leading a council whose jurisdiction area is bigger than Singapore, involving an area of 984 square kilometres.
Apart from conventional services such as rubbish collection, grass cutting, drainage clearing, pothole patching, and maintenance of markets and recreational parks, he is aware of other new challenges such as traffic congestion and flash flood issues, which often happen due to rapid urbanisation and climate change.
Although these issues are too massive for the council’s authority and capability to handle alone, he assured that MPP will be working closely with other relevant government agencies and authorities to overcome those problems.
“MPP must be courageous enough to take up the new challenges.
“Not only is MPP big in terms of its size (areas under its jurisdiction), it has also undergone tremendous development progress over the years, with residential, commercial, and various tourism projects,” he said after taking the oath as the new council chairman, replacing Lo Khere Chiang at the MPP headquarters here today.
Thus, his vision would emphasise “ZERO DISTANCE” between MPP and its residents, where the council will continue to upgrade tourist spots, making Padawan the most attractive destination for tourism as well as other aspects.
Under his leadership, MPP, he said, will continue to place great emphasis on improving its infrastructure to provide a conducive environment for all residents and businesses.
“However, the normal assessment revenue is hardly enough to bear for the infrastructure development. We hope the revenue of MPP can be increased through elected representatives’ funding of the Rural Transformation Project (RTP), the People’s Project (Projek Rakyat), and the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“Apart from that, we will also give focus to protecting the environment, which is in line with Sarawak Government’s initiatives in its Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, as well as meet the Greater Kuching Development Plan to achieve the “Greater Kuching, Healthy, and Smart City” status,” he added.
He also called upon all councillors and council staff to work closely and dedicate their best services to the people, as “Serve The People” has always been his personal motto since day one.
Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government II Michael Tiang, the ministry’s permanent secretary Elizabeth Loh, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, and outgoing MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang, who is also the Batu Kitang assemblyman, were among those present at the ceremony.
