THE Local Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025 removes ambiguity and reinforces the statutory status of municipal councils, says Batu Kitang Assemblyman, Datuk Lo Khere Chiang.
He said the Bill formally recognises three municipal councils, namely the Padawan Municipal Council, Miri Municipal Council, and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council.
“It is important that we reflect the current realities of governance on the ground. These councils have long been operational, serving growing urban populations, and managing increasing responsibilities.
“Formal recognition in the ordinance ensures that their authority is not only administrative but statutory.
“This provides greater legitimacy, governance clarity, and paves the way for more efficient public service delivery,” he said when debating the bill during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here today.
As former chairman of the Padawan Municipal Council, Lo said he had firsthand experience on how important statutory clarity is to the day-to-day operations of a local council, from planning approvals to waste management and infrastructure development.
“The Bill proposes a simple yet strategic amendment to Section 1(2A) of the Ordinance.
“It seeks to empower the State Cabinet to amend the Schedules in the Ordinance by notification, without the need to return to the Dewan for every technical update.
This mechanism enhances flexibility and efficiency. The Schedules typically include listings such as names of councils, boundaries, classifications – elements that are administrative in nature and subject to change as our towns expand, merge, or reorganise,” he added.
