KOTA KINABALU: Sandakan’s issue of uncollected house assessments, with nearly RM42mil in outstanding dues from property owners, must be addressed promptly, says Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung.
The Tanjong Papat assemblyman said this revenue was essential for the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) to meet its maintenance and operational expenses.
He urged the council to encourage timely payments by offering incentives to ratepayers, underscoring the importance of this revenue for ensuring ongoing public services and infrastructure maintenance for the district.
This matter was among the few issues in Sandakan which needed to be tackled swiftly, said Poon, who is former Sabah DAP chairman.
He said the other matters which needed to be looked into included town maintenance and cleanliness, encouraging economic development and fiscal responsibility to support essential services.
He said these were some of the many concerns that the locals in Sandakan expressed to him recently, to which he brought up to MPS president Henry Idol.
Poon said for the matter of town maintenance and cleanliness to upkeep the appearance of Sandakan, particularly in areas like the old slipway, it required more consistent maintenance.
“Maintaining a clean and healthy environment is essential for all,” he emphasised in urging MPS and community members to collaborate and pool resources to ensure Sandakan was well-maintained, clean, and welcoming to both residents and visitors.
Touching on economic challenges with numerous shops having closed in recent years, he suggested that MPS consider offering incentives to attract new businesses to town, helping to revitalise Sandakan’s economy and provide more opportunities for local residents.
“Revitalising the town’s commercial activity is vital to our community’s prosperity and resilience,” Poon stated, encouraging measures that would bring vibrancy and new opportunities to the town.
Adding to that, he proposed that the Menara MPS be used in coordination with community organisations and government departments to drive local engagement and generate new activities in town.
By making Menara MPS a focal point for community events, services, and programs, Sandakan’s town centre could become more active and appealing, contributing to a sense of community pride and unity, he said.
Poon said the meeting marked a proactive step in addressing the community’s pressing concerns, with both Poon and Idol emphasising their commitment to working collaboratively to improve the quality of life for Sandakan’s residents.
