SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) is implementing the Cleanliness and Tidiness Programme to make the city cleaner, more organised and safer for visitors.
MPS President Walter Kenson said his team is actively conducting cleaning operations, including removing overgrown wild plants around buildings in the city centre and Bandar Nam Tung.
“These wild plants give a negative impression, making Sandakan appear unkempt and disorderly.
“Therefore, MPS is taking proactive measures by carrying out the cleaning efforts to ensure our city looks more presentable and appealing to visitors,” he said while inspecting the removal of wild plants at a building.
Once this cleaning phase is completed by the end of May, MPS will take further steps to encourage building owners to repaint their premises.
“This initiative aims to enhance Sandakan’s beauty and create a livelier and safer atmosphere, especially at night.
“We want to restore Sandakan’s image so visitors and tourists see it as a well-organised, clean and attractive city. With freshly painted buildings and improved lighting, Sandakan will undoubtedly become a more pleasant place to visit,” Walter said.
To encourage building owners’ participation, MPS will introduce several attractive incentives, including a tax reduction of up to 50 per cent for those willing to repaint their buildings.
“We understand that painting costs can be expensive. Therefore, MPS will ease their burden by providing certain incentives and encourage more building owners to take part,” he said.
Walter reminded property owners to play a role in keeping their surroundings clean.
He urged them to advise their tenants against littering, especially in canopy areas, which often become dumping spots for irresponsible waste disposal.
Additionally, property owners are encouraged to promptly report any leaking pipes or infrastructure damage to the relevant authorities to ensure immediate repairs.
“If everyone plays their part, we can make Sandakan a cleaner, more comfortable and more attractive city for all,” he said.
