Miri City Council -- Mayor's Message

In less than 2 week’s time, we will bid farewell to Year 2007 and welcome the arrival of Year 2008. At this juncture, I think its timely for me again to greet everyone a very happy and prosperous new year. May the new year be also a productive year and constant good health for everyone.

After Miri is being elevated to city on 20th May 2005, Miri City Council has never become complacent to our past achievements. We have in fact intensified our efforts to carry out more infrastructure developments and provide better services to Mirians.

For Year 2007, our emphasis concentrates on improvement to city outlook, landscaping and beautification works, cleanliness and better cleaning services. I should express my appreciation to the Mirians for the support and cooperation to the Council in carrying out their works. I am equally grateful for the understanding and tolerance given by the general public for giving us time and opportunity to remedy our shortcomings during the course of discharging our duties.

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to disclose the significant programmes that have been carried out by the Council;-

A few grand development projects have been carried out this year including the bus terminal building and associated works at Tudan, Miri which has a scheme value of more than RM2.5 million. The operation of the bus terminal will commence soon. Besides this, we have almost utilised the allocation for the following improvement works as well:-

1.1	Drainage and roadside improvement	-	RM4.3 million
1.2	Road and traffic improvement	-	RM3.2 million
1.3	Additional fund for upgrading of drainage system at 9 different housing estates and commercial centre	-	RM1.2 million

82 tenders and 205 quotations had been called in carrying out various projects and providing cleaning services to Miri City as compared to 91 tenders and 189 quotations last year. There are a few quotations for various works which are yet to be carried out before end of the year.

Apart from using sanitary landfill for the management of solid waste. The Council has carried out various awareness programmes, 3R buy-back campaigns and waste-recovery projects in its reduction of rubbish disposal. The Council has managed to recover 9.5 % from rubbish disposed and this is not far from the national target of 11% by end 2010. The percentage does not include the recovery of scrapped metals.
In the effort of improving cleanliness at food outlets, the Council has introduced cleanliness grading system to encourage food operators to improve cleanliness at their food premises as this is an important factor in attracting visitors to Miri. Apart from this, the Council under its Public Health, Environment & City Services Committee has also set up a special cleanliness monitoring task force to check and recommend to Council on various improvements to such premises. The dual efforts have produced marked result especially the number of food outlets obtained “A” grading has increased. (We are going to present such certificates to the operators after the Full Council). Such effort has also prompted other food operators to improve their standards as I believe they do not wish to be judged otherwise.
The Council has allocated more than RM4.2 million to the maintenance of landscaping works along public areas as well as parks and recreation grounds. The protection of sea front along Taman Selera and Luak Bay Esplanade is also receiving due attention. After the development of a few well known parks like Miri City Fan and Taman Awam Miri few years back, we are able to maintain and upkeep the beautification works in these few parks and this is one of the reasons other councils are coming to learn from us on how to sustain the beauty of our parks. In order to protect our properties from vandalism and for the sake of public safety, the Council will gradually install CCTV in all the major parks in Miri.
This year, the Council has received the State Award for the most number of visitors coming to the Miri Public Library. The award is based on the highest number of visitors to the library for three consecutive years from Year 2004 to 2006. Starting from October this year, all the 4 libraries have increased the number of books borrowed from 2 to 3 books at a time so as to promote reading habits. Apart from the conventional library services, Miri Public Library is also organising reading related activities like the annual Children Festival on 15/9/07, reading month, story telling, colouring contest and etc.
The Car Park Control Division has managed to increase its parking fees collection at end of November this year to RM3.8 million corresponding to RM3.5 million for the same period last year. Apart from improving the revenue collection, the Council will give in-service trainings to the parking wardens so as to provide quality service and greater courtesy to their customers.
On the enforcement aspect, the Council’s enforcement forces have carried out a few major exercise including the recent operation against illegal hawkers at Pujut Corner
Miri Local Agenda 21 has been the Council’s effective link with other government agencies, NGOs and the local communities. Due to the closer ties, Miri Local Agenda 21 has managed to obtain active participation from local communities in the Council’s community services projects. Owing to its activeness and full calendar of programmes, Miri Local Agenda 21 Unit has been recognized as one of the most active and successful groups in the country.
On revenue collection, assessment rates collection has been the major revenue of the Council. Due to proactive approach taken by the Rating & Valuation Department such as the setting up of assessment rates collection counters at major shopping complexes during the peak collection period, aggressive publicity, providing additional options for paying bills like using credit card, through banking facilities, opening counters during lunch break and etc, the efforts put in have produced good result. The total collection from assessment rates as at to-date is RM28.3 million compared to RM27.2 million last year. The actual collection compared to the expected yield is 93.3%. Through various means, the department has also recovered RM2.23 million from the outstanding assessment rates owed by various property owners. The Council is grateful to the property owners in fulfilling their obligation by paying out the assessment rates as their great co-operation has enable the Council, in return, to provide more and better developments and services to them.
On the part of the general administration, a total number of 216 committee meetings / dialogue sessions with various organizations have been held this year compared with 215 last year. On press release so far, a total of 95 press statements had been issued by the Public Relations Section as compared to 92 in 2006. With regard to public requests / complaints, the Public Relations Section has handled 625 cases as at 18/12/2007. However, it is a good indication that fewer complaints were received as compared to the last 2 years (1,030 cases in Year 2006 and 679 in 2005). The percentage of Miri property owners making complaints has correspondingly lower as compared to the past 5 years. (Projected percentage for 2007 is 1.47% as compared to 2.55% in 2006 and 1.77% in 2005). The Council so far has received 18 groups of visitors compared to 15 in 2006. The visitors are interested to learn from Council on its landscaping and beautification programmes, Local Agenda 21 programme and sanitary landfill.

Throughout the year, the Council has received the following recognitions/achievements:-

11.1	The Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Appreciation Award in early 2007 for outstanding contribution to tourism industry 2006
11.2	The Malaysia Book of Records for “The Biggest Gathering of People Sharing the same Birth Date” (achieved during Miri City Day Celebration when 211 birthday boys and girls celebrated their birthday with Miri City on early hours of 20th May 2007.
11.3	ISO 9001:2000 Certification for its 5 core businesses
11.4	Short listed for consideration of National Level 2005/2006 Environmental Award In Connection With Sustainable City Programme (result has not been announced)
11.5	Short listed for consideration of State Level Public Service Quality Award 2007 (result has not been announced)

Year 2008 will be another year full of challenges for the Council as it has been dominated for the following evaluations:-

1 Rating system for local authorities
2 Environmental Award
3 Implementation of Healthy City Concept

Apart from this, the Council will also continue with its emphasis on improvement to its delivery of quality services in anticipating higher expectation from the general public.

In light of the above, the Councillors, the management and council staff as a whole should gear up for the challenges ahead of us.

However, with the team spirit, clear focus and dedication from the Council at all levels, proper management and monitoring systems formulated, innovative approaches and, last but not least, understanding and co-operation from Council’s working partners and the general public, Miri City Council’s mission can again be accomplished.

At this juncture, I should give credits to the general public’s co-operation and members of the press’s support as these are the main determining factors for the achievements that the Council had obtained so far. We really need continued support from you for the Council to deliver and produce another fruitful year. Thank you.