Laws, regulations of Sarawak local authorities to be reviewed and updated

KUCHING: The Sarawak Ministry of Local Government and Housing has set up a Local Councils Law Revision Committee to review and update the local authorities’ laws and regulations to meet current needs and demands.
Its minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said it was being chaired by the permanent secretary of the ministry and its members were among the legal officers of the major councils.
In his winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting here today, he said among the laws that were being studied was the Earthworks By-Laws due to the importance of controlling flood and soil sedimentation in the development areas and their vicinity.
"We are also reviewing the Hotel and Lodging Houses By-Laws as there is a strong need to update and regulate the hotel industry in support of the state’s tourism sector.
"There will be a series of engagement sessions with the industry players before the new by-laws become enforceable by the end of this year or early next year," he said.
Dr Sim said since 2012, two laws had been streamlined and reviewed, namely the Local Authorities (Advertisement) By-Laws 2012 and Local Authorities (Amendment) Ordinance 2013.
In addition to that, the Local Authorities (Licensing of Food Establishments and Miscellaneous Trade ) By-Laws were already in the final stage of review, he said.
Meanwhile, he said, the state government had approved an allocation of RM61.6 million this year for the 23 local authorities to implement 476 small to medium-scale infrastructure projects.
"Out of these, 464 or 97.5 per cent are at various stages of implementation and most will be completed within this year.
“In addition to the allocation, the state government too has approved 114 flood-mitigation projects with a total ceiling of RM100 million and they are being implemented by the local councils, the Drainage and Irrigation Department and Public Works Department," he said.
Dr Sim said the federal government had also approved RM265 million this year for his ministry, for the maintenance of roads, drains and road furniture under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS).
"To-date, RM185 million has been received and distributed to the various local councils based on their registered road mileage," he said. — Bernama