Kota Samarahan cracks down on illegal stalls
KUCHING: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council ( MPKS) will be stricter on enforcing the law against those trading at five-foot ways, roadsides (including sides of highway), pedestrian walkways and parking lots in its area of jurisdiction effective Jan 1 next year.
Giving a two-month grace period to repeat offenders, its chairman Dato Peter Minos zeroed in on those trading along and beside the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway with the following warning.
“There are three reasons for this: to keep the highway safe and not unsightly, to ensure five-foot ways at the shops are open and safe for the public and to ensure parking lots are meant for public parking and not disturbed in any way.”
“We want Kota Samarahan to be a truly safe, clean and neat town, not dirty and unsightly. The municipal council wants this culture of keeping Kota Samarahan clean and beautiful be cultivated now and at an early stage as Kota Samarahan is new and fast-growing,” he stressed.
“The available laws will be fully enforced with effect from Jan, 2019. No more excuses. No more tolerance. No more exceptions. No more permits.
“Even though some traders are willing to pay the permits and/ or repeated fi nes, MPKS will say ‘No’ starting from Jan 1, 2019,” he added.
He said those transgressing will be given only one seven- day notice before the MPKS enforcement division takes necessary action thereafter.
The council, in the meantime, will get funds to set up public markets and stalls at proper places for the traders including those now illegally doing trading at roadsides.
“We do think and care for the small traders and the small entrepreneurs but they must do their trading at proper, safe and public-friendly places.”
The safety and convenience of the public is paramount, he pointed out.
“They must walk and drive in safety and with peace of mind. They must not be inconvenienced in any way. And the wider public these days demand cleanliness, good hygiene and healthy places. That is why MPKS has been singing the same old tune of clean toilets, clean open streets, no to styrofoam food containers, no to plastic use on Sundays, increased greenery and landscaping, and no to littering,” said Minos.
From Jan 1 next year, MPKS will vigorously upgrade its waste collection, drain- cleaning, stray dog catching and all works and exercises in making Kota Samarahan safe, neat and clean.
“MPKS badly needs public information (tip- off) and alert us on this exercise because we do not have the manpower to do all the checking and monitoring.
“Moreover the area covered is huge, from Batang Kuap bridge to Batang Sadong bridge. Public support and cooperation and public input are absolutely necessary,” he added.