‘PMC to look for ways to increase revenue’
KUCHING: Nearly RM2 million in rates annually will be gone from the Padawan Municipal Council’s ( PMC) coffer next year following the taking- over of some of its areas of jurisdiction by Serian District Council (SDC).
MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang said a total of 9,198 properties comprising 9,086 private and 112 government properties, would fall under the SDC jurisdiction effective Jan 1 next year.
Speaking at the symbolic handing- over ceremony of the areas in Siburan near here yesterday, he said the annual assessment rates from the 9,086 private properties and 112 government properties were RM1,869,306.70 and RM111,948.18 respectively.
Although about 447.82 sq km had been handed over to SDC, Lo said PMC still had a very big area to look into.
“With insufficient fund, PMC will have to request from the government a bigger fund so that we can carry out with our work, especially to upgrade drains and roads in Padawan, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawa, Batu Kitang, Taman
With insufficient fund, PMC will have to request from the government a bigger fund so that we can carry out with our work, especially to upgrade drains and roads in Padawan, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawa, Batu Kitang, Taman Malihah Matang and Telaga Air areas. Lo Khere Chiang, MPP chairman
Malihah Matang and Telaga Air areas,” he said.
Lo said now that PMC had no more control over properties in Siburan, Tapah and Beratok and residential properties in lower Padawan, they would have to concentrate on other ways to increase their revenue in order to improve infrastructure and facilities in areas within their jurisdiction.
“Our challenge is how to create revenue, how to get more land from the government for development and how to develop more land because only by having more properties will we be able to make more money,” he said.
Lo said PMC was not only facing insufficient fund but also insufficient staff, especially enforcement officers to enforce the bylaws. SDC deputy chairman Dr Simon Sinang, who also spoke, said the extension of SDC areas of jurisdiction meant bigger responsibilities for the council now.
Like Lo, he also called on the ministry to increase their manpower now that they had bigger areas to cover.
“We have received an additional 51 villages as well as Siburan, Tapah and Beratok bazaars. So it is a new challenge for us, but we will face it and improve the quality of our services as we go along,” he said.
He added that they would set up a service counter in Siburan bazaar to allow former PMC residents to pay their assessment rates.
He said SDC had also signed a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) with H& L Supermarket, to collect rate payments on the behalf of SDC for people who live far away from Serian.