Sandakan appoints two more councillors
SANDAKAN: Members of the Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) have been urged to play a more active role in shaping policy and making decision for Sandakan's development.
SMC president Datuk Peter Hii Chang Lik said councillors held one of the most important positions in the local authorities. Hence, they must make sure that they have good knowledge on rules and acts used by local authorities so that the steps that they take would always be consistent and contradictary.
“Councillors must also be active in contributing good ideas and suggestions in efforts to transform our services to become more efficient, and meet the rising expectation of the local community,” he said.
He also said the councillors must also play a role in assisting him as the president in ensuring that SMC's policies could be implemented.
“Councillors are responsible to approve any policy under local authority laws in Sandakan and ensure that their decisions made are for the best of SMC,” he added.
Hii said this to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of two SMC members, Rozly Aziz and Roulind Patrick at his office at SMC Building yesterday morning.
On November 2, 23 SMC councillors were sworn in before Health and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong.
Hii also hoped that all SMC councillors understood that they were the agents that connected the government and the local community in efforts to bring prosperity to the rakyat.
“They must also do inspection in their respective areas and practice ‘turun padang' (go to the ground) to see for themselves what is lacking and problems faced by the community.
“They are responsible to ensure the cleanliness of the streets and roads, business premises, condition of the garbage, and hygiene of public toilets and stalls in their areas,” he said.
Hii also advised Rozly and Roulind to stay away from corruption during their term.
He asked them not to receive any gift or reward from parties with certain intention as it would be a risk for them to get accused of corruption or abuse of power.