Commercial signboards must be registered – TMC
TAWAU: Business operators in Tawau have been urged to register their commercial signboards with the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) as soon as possible in accordance with the TMC By-Laws 1968.
Those who fail to do so run the risk of being penalized with a RM500 compound, warned TMC President Alijus Sipil.
Alijus said the registration of commercial signboard had been implemented since 1980, and the campaign to register commercial signboards was launched in Tawau from July until September 29.
He said as of August 28, this campaign had been well received by 300 business operators who had purchased the registration application form from the Council.
So far 180 individuals or business operators had submitted their completed registration forms, he added.
Alijus said the completed registration forms should be attached with photocopies of MyKad, trading licence, a photo of signboard and its size before submitting to the Council.
He said for those who had registered before or on September 29, this year their advertising fee would be charged starting October 1, this year.
The charge for commercial signboard remains at RM5 per square foot, the cheapest rate if compared with Sandakan Municipal Council at RM55 per square foot and Kota Kinabalu City Hall at RM125 for 10 square metres.
“This campaign is not intended to trouble the business operators but for the advantage of the public, for example, if the commercial signboard falls down and hits one’s property the Council will get the blame.
“We will also walk from door to door throughout this campaign if the response is poor,” Alijus said.
“There are 5,000 business units in Tawau, but during this campaign the Council will prioritize about 800 business units in the township here,” he said.
Alijus said the business operators could walk in to the Advertisement Unit, Third Floor of TMC, or call 089-701681 for further information.
On other matter, Alijus said TMC would also organise a “Forgiveness Month Program” to give exemption to residential house assessment interest arrears and 50 per cent compound discounts starting September until November, this year.
The residents could check their compound status at the TMC enforcement office at Jalan Stephen Tan here.
However, the Council will open three payment counters at TMC from 8am to 3pm, at UTC Tawau from 8am to 8:30pm and the TMC enforcement office at Jalan Stephen Tan from 8am to 3pm.