'Collect dues before polls' order
Published on: Wednesday, February 07, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: All local authorities in Sabah have been urged to settle their arrears for collection of taxes immediately before the imminent 14th General Election (GE14).Making the call, State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said they must be more aggressive and collect all the arrears from the concerned ratepayers that could enhance the current revenue collection up to 100 per cent and at least 60 per cent on the arrears amount owed by the ratepayers.He said it is vital to collect the payments including collecting the arrears before GE14 comes so as to ensure credibility of the Ministry, its agencies and PBTs will not be negatively affected.
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"My foremost message to civil servants of my ministry is that all works, including arrears payments in the respective PBTs, need to be settled before GE14 has been announced."The problem we are facing now is many ratepayers are paying late or delaying payment of arrears although we have offered various incentives to encourage them to clear all," he said, after delivering his message to officers and civil servants in his ministry at TH Hotel, Tuesday.Also present were Assistant Minister Datuk Zakaria Edris, permanent secretary Datuk Ginun Yangus and his deputy Wong Foo Tin, Sabah Housing and Town Planning Authority (LPPB) Datuk Ahmad Bujang, Sabah Native Affairs Council (Mheans) President Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin and other senior officials.He said the PBTs must do their best to collect the current and arrears so as to cover the operational expenses, among others, in the ministry including the local authorities.
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Ginun told the media that Sandakan Municipal Council, Tawau Municipal Council and Penampang District Council have achieved 90 percent of the payment of arrears and current ones while the rest of the PBTs are only achieving progressive payment between 60 and 80 per cent.To a question, Hajiji said the Ministry had yet to feel satisfied with such percentage achieved by PBTs on collection of the current tax and arrears as he urged them to increase target collection up to 100 per cent for the current ones and at least 60 per cent for the collection of arrears.
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He said the ministry encourages all kinds of means to reach out to the ratepayers including the social media to make payment as well as appointing companies to notify the ratepayers to settle their arrears and current ones to them.As for errant ratepayers, he said the ministry will find proper steps to ensure they settle their arrears in the respective PBTs.Hajiji said the Ministry is also monitoring its civil servants including senior officers who are criticising the present ruling government in social media and appropriate action will be taken against them."These civil servants we have identified and monitored their movements. "Normally, we would advise them first and if they continue to do so, then we will consider disciplinary action," he said.Earlier in his speech, Hajiji said the Ministry together with its agencies and all PBTs have been asked to target five-star rating on their respective financial management based on upcoming accountability index as its second message to them.He said those found not contributing to the achievement and goal of the ministry or being unproductive have been advised to enhance their work efforts before forced retirement action is carried out against them via "exit policy" that has been enforced."I have also called on all local authorities in Sabah to look for other initiatives such as new resource to enhance revenue of the Municipal and district councils."They must also be alert to cleanliness level in their respective areas as well as ensuring scheduled rubbish collection is carried out smoothly. I do not want rating areas under the jurisdiction of the PBTs in Sabah to become a place for vector diseases outbreak such as rats, dengue, cholera and malaria, among others.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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