Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah wants City Hall to become the most favourable state government agency.
The Mayor said this required City Hall to provide services at a level that would satisfy the customers.
“One of the initiatives to achieve this goal is to instil a sense of urgency among our officers and staff so that any public dealings with the City Hall will be given immediate action.
This includes ensuring the services for public are efficient and transparent at high level,” Dr Sabin said.
He also said ratepayers owe City Hall some RM75.68 million in assessment arrears.
The amount includes the current overdue assessment rate tax of RM54.30 million, while interest charges which have been imposed amounting to RM19.21 million and RM2.16 million for notification fee charges.
Last year, he said, City Hall filed 11 tax demand notices amounting to RM30,485.73 as well as seven lawsuits for execution order actions amounting to RM64,518.24.
“In the same year, 68 cases filed in the Court in previous years have been resolved involving a total collection of RM634,051.52.
“City Hall encourages all tax payers (rate payers) to settle their respective tax rates, immediately, to avoid being charged with interest and legal action,” he told a press conference after a gathering with the media, Monday night.
To encourage the payment of (assessment rates) tax arrears, Dr Sabin said 75 per cent discount on fee interest and notification notice is given for the first quarter of the year, with a condition that the tax arrears are all paid.
He said a rebate of five per cent on the current year’s tax is offered if the rate payers pay the current year’s rate all at once on or before March 31, 2024.
He also hoped that the good relationship between City Hall and the media would with both needing each other.
“I myself need input from the media to enable City Hall and me to improve the level of efficiency and to provide excellent services to the people of Kota Kinabalu.
“I am very confident with the team and commitment of our officers and staff that this can be achieved,” he said, at a dinner with media representatives.
On opening Tun Fuad Stephen Park to public, Dr Sabin said he was informed by the contractor that the park is expected to be completed in March next year and open to public in April next year.
Dr Sabin who visited the upgrading site of the park two weeks ago, said extension of time (EOT) was given for the contractor to complete the project next year, as there are some works at the site that need to be attended to.
On another matter, he said DBKK had yet to make any plans to grant amnesty for offences committed under its by-law for the coming celebration of Kota Kinabalu’s 24th anniversary this Thursday.
He said a reduction on the penalties may be considered provided overdue payments of summons or fines had been settled first.
“If we do away the penalties or fines that we have imposed, then this may create a sense of dissatisfaction and unfairness for those who abide by the law.
“I will make sure that our staff will provide good services and make them feel what they pay is fair,” he said.
Dr Sabin said overdue payments can be settled either through online or go to the City Hall office or any designated payment centres.
City Hall also plans to increase the number of Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) for safety and security reasons.
Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah hoped the State Government would consider its application for necessary funding.
