KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng, has defended the council’s enforcement record, stressing that MBKS has been carrying out daily operations to remove illegal moneylender advertisements across the city.
This comes after a statement by Michael Kong, which, according to Wee, unfairly singled out MBKS and the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) as if they had failed in their duties.
“It is misleading to portray MBKS and MPP as inactive.
“For the record, our enforcement teams remove illegal advertisements as part of their daily duties and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), not just when the issue is highlighted publicly,” Wee said.
He stressed that under the Local Authorities (Advertisements) By-Laws, 2012, the display of illegal advertisements is an offence.
Offenders face fines of up to RM5,000 or six months’ imprisonment, with additional penalties of RM200 per day for continuing offences.
MBKS has consistently enforced these laws.
However, Wee highlighted that local councils cannot combat such syndicates on their own.
“The operators are organised, mobile, and often act beyond council boundaries.
“Effective eradication requires joint action from the police, local councils, and other enforcement agencies,” he said.
“To label MBKS and MPP as inactive is unjust and raises questions on whether the criticism was made in good faith or merely to score political points.”
Wee reaffirmed MBKS’ commitment to safeguarding public spaces and protecting residents from illegal moneylending activities.
He also extended an open invitation for collaboration.
“This issue is best solved when everyone works together with sincerity, not by undermining each other.”
