Cleaner city and stronger ethics

SIBU: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has promised to keep the city clean.

Its chairman, Clarence Ting Ing Horth, said that the collective responsibility is important to maintaining cleanliness, not just in public areas but also in personal spaces like homes and public restrooms.

“We have to do it together. SMC cannot do it alone,” he said at the SMC’s Countdown 2024 event held at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang on Sunday night.

The event, featuring various entertainment programmes, was attended by Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee. Ting, addressing other matters, highlighted the council’s commitment to integrity and a zero-tolerance policy against bribery and corruption.

“If the council is corrupt, I will be the first person to bring anyone to MACC [Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission],” he affirmed.

Further, Ting discussed initiatives towards making Sibu a Child-Friendly and Age-Friendly City. This includes collaborations with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Curtin University to develop an Action Plan for Sibu, focusing on the welfare of children, families, and the elderly. He also mentioned the formation of a Children Council in 2024, under the supervision of UNICEF and the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KKWPK).

Ting also brought attention to the council’s dedication to addressing climate change and adhering to sustainable development goals.

“A community that is economically prosperous, socially, and environmentally sustainable is more likely to have high levels of wellbeing,” he added.

The event also included a prize-giving ceremony for the Christmas Tree Decoration Contest 2023, with Daesco winning the top prize.

Also present were Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, Deputy SMC chairman Mohammad Abdullah Izkandar Roseley, and event organising chairman Rory Wong Ee Yion.