SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) has approved a new policy encouraging premises across the district to replace conventional signboards with LED, lightbox, neon, or 3D billboards to brighten the town centre at night and boost economic activity.
MPS President Datuk Walter Kenson said the local authority has waived the fees previously charged for installing or converting to illuminated signage under the policy, which takes effect immediately with no expiry date.
He said the council has also removed size restrictions on the signboards—including permitting entire building walls to be used for LED displays—subject to technical approval and the submission of engineering drawings for safety verification.
The joint initiative with the business community aims to revive Sandakan’s past image as "Little Hong Kong", with MPS targeting at least two premises in every building block to install illuminated signboards.
Speaking after chairing a licensing committee meeting at the MPS conference room on Monday, Walter added that the initiative extends beyond commercial premises to private offices, government agencies, hotels, and the industrial and tourism sectors across the district up to Sepilok.