KOTA PADAWAN: The Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) has embarked on efforts to strike a better balance between residential developments and industrial as well as commercial premises in its jurisdiction.
Its chairman Tan Kai said the initiative was part of a broader strategy to strengthen the local economy and improve revenue sustainability.
He noted that the council area is currently heavily dominated by housing estates, a situation that reflects rapid suburban growth but also presents challenges in terms of municipal income and long-term planning.
“When I came in 2023, I discovered that residential properties make up the overwhelming majority of holdings under the council, while commercial and industrial properties account for only a small portion.
“The imbalance limits the council’s ability to diversify its revenue base and expand economic activities across the municipality.
“From there, we set up a policy to encourage more commercial and industrial development to come to PMC,” he said.
Tan said to do so, fast track approvals are given, especially on land that had been alienated to PMC, to those who are coming in to build commercial and industrial buildings compared to residential ones.
He noted that PMC still has much room to increase commercial and industry buildings, but it has to balance it.
Tan said the move is necessary because local councils depend significantly on assessment rates, licensing fees and development-related income to fund public services and maintain infrastructure.
A council area that is overly concentrated on housing alone may face growing service demands without a matching increase in stronger revenue-generating sectors.
He stressed that a more balanced development model would not only improve PMC’s financial position, but also create wider economic spillover effects for the community.
The initiative is expected to encourage the growth of business centres, shoplots, light industrial areas and employment hubs, while reducing the need for residents to travel elsewhere for work, trade and services.
Such planning is also seen as crucial in supporting orderly urban expansion as Padawan continues to grow as one of the largest and fastest-developing local authority areas in Greater Kuching.
According to Tan Kai, PMC has a considerably high number of ratable premises at 85,000.
However, out of this 85,000 ratable premises, residential premises made up 91 per cent of it, while commercial (seven per cent) and industrial (two per cent).
“If you want to have a better income revenue, commercial and industrial have to be more than we currently have,” Tan Kai said.
