Bandar Utama business owners appealing for better maintenence
SANDAKAN: Business owners at Bandar Utama here are appealing for better maintenance of open spaces and public amenities by the relevant authorities.
“While we do see general maintenance such as grasscutting being done beside the main roads and ‘islands’ separating the traffic lanes, that doesn’t seem to be happening in less conspicuous places, especially in the rear compounds and back lanes of many shoplots,” said Sandakan Indian Association (SIA) caretaker president Taren Sunil Manoharan.
During casual discussions with business owners operating from shops at Bandar Utama, quite a number of them had raised the issue of poor maintenance, pointing to the overgrown kneehigh grass in the compound behind their shop lots.
“They feel that the grass-trimming is being done in places more visible to the public eye while the back lanes and compounds of shop lots seemed to be receiving far less attention or even being downright neglected,” added Taren Sunil.
He urged the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) to get their workers or contractors assigned to the task to be more mindful of the situation. Their apparent lack of urgency in tackling poor maintenance of public facilities and open spaces will negatively affect business establishments, especially those in the food industry.
“People would be turned off if the vicinity around restaurants, coffee shops or cafes looks messy with overgrown grass and untrimmed shrubs. Adding to their woes would be the high likelihood of more mosquitoes, flies and other pests breeding and hiding among the long untrimmed grass and bushes,” he continued.
Taren Sunil appealed to MPS and other agencies responsible for handling such tasks to urgently look into the issue and get the job done.
“When all public spaces and amenities are properly maintained, I am sure business owners and the public in general will stop complaining whenever they pay their assessment and other fees due to MPS,” he reasoned.
People would be turned off if the vicinity around restaurants, coffee shops or cafes looks messy with overgrown grass and untrimmed shrubs. Adding to their woes would be the high likelihood of more mosquitoes, flies and other pests breeding and hiding among the long untrimmed grass and bushes.
— Taren Sunil Manoharan, SIA caretaker president