Allow shops extended awnings in P'pang
Published on: Saturday, December 27, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: Penampang MCA has urged the District Council to capitalise on available spaces in commercial areas under its jurisdiction so as to generate income for the Council.Its Chairman Datuk Paul Kong Sing Chu proposed that the Council allow eatery outlets to extend the awnings outside its premises so that they could have more tables and chairs for the customers.He said this could allow the Council to generate a bigger larger income.
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"Most eatery outlets, especially coffee shops, would make use of the space outside their premises so that they could put up more tables for their customers," he said after a courtesy call on Penampang new District Officer, Luvita Koisun, recently. However, he said the Council must compel these outlets to put up aesthetically proper and safe structures and charge them accordingly for the usage of the space. He said the rates should emulate that of City Hall, which is RM1 per square foot."And before any structures are considered for erection, the shop owners should also submit a proper floor and structure plan for consideration and approval of the Council," he said.
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Many shops in Penampang were taken by surprise when the Council earlier this year took off awnings "illegally" extended from its premises.The Council explained that the extended awnings were not according to the stipulated agreement and hence the action.
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Kong also highlighted the malfunctioned streetlights, especially along the newly completed Jalan Bundusan. He said the malfunctioned streetlights on four stretches along Jalan Bundusan are causing a lot of inconveniences to the road users, particularly at night. He said that former District Officer William Sampil had promised that the problem would be resolved by end of this year."There are also many stretches along Jalan Penampang, Jalan Pintas and Jalan Lintas where the streetlights have malfunctioned, some of which have been out of order for a long time already. "We strongly believe this small problem should not have happened considering that the Government had spent so much money on streetlight infrastructure," he said. MCA Penampang, he said, is under the impression that the Council has only appointed one contractor to carry out streetlight maintenance for the entire district. To this, he suggested that the Council appoint three more competent contractors so that the maintenance of the streetlights would be more effective and efficient.To another issue, Kong said the Council should strictly enforce its by-laws to get rid of the many old and condemned vehicles abandoned by the roadside in many housing estates, industrial areas and back lanes."The Council also should seriously look into the collection of garbage, sewerage maintenance, road maintenance, including the drains, and grass-cutting service," he said.On floods, he said the Council should request for Federal funds to implement flood mitigation projects in the district, especially in Donggongon.This is so as to alleviate the constant threat of flash floods in the district, he said. He also said the Council should also install traffic lights at the Jalan Bundusan and Jalan Penampang Lama junctions."This is because the present roundabout has proven to be the cause of major traffic jam during peak hours in the morning and evening," he said. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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