SANDAKAN – Sandakan has a lot to improve before it can attain city status, Sabah’s Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said.
Masidi said the process to elevate the Sandakan Municipal Council’s status to that of city hall is still ongoing even after a decade of efforts.
“We need to first further improve the level of services. For me, we need to ensure Sandakan is eligible to be nominated as a city, while at the same time, improving the level of the municipal council services first.
“I can’t say it is almost there. It is very subjective. What is important is that as we go along, we try to fulfil all the procedures and upgrade the services we provide to taxpayers,” Masidi said after attending the Sandakan Municipal Council briefing today.
Sandakan has been tipped to be declared a city this month or latest by October following Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin announcing last June that the municipal council was now ready for city status.
Masidi also said the Sandakan Municipal Council is the only local government in Sabah which has solid financial reserves compared to other local state governments.
Among the council’s challenges are dealing with stray dogs and abandoned buildings.
“We are now trying to gather more information on the dog owners and look into all the available bylaws to take action against owners who abandoned their premises.
“I was also made to understand that some have turned their buildings for swiftlet farming.
“As a reminder, the state cabinet has disallowed swiftlet farming in townships and residential buildings. We are looking into certain bylaws to stop this,” he said. – The Vibes, September 19, 2022
