By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 30: Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang has hit back at Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, who chided the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) for the delay in addressing the structural integrity of shophouses at Lorong Datuk Tawi Sli, 3 ½ Mile, Jalan Penrissen.
In a press statement, Lo said that the shophouses are privately owned with individual land titles and that Chong should instead advise private shop owners that they are responsible for addressing issues related to their property.
“For instance, if my fencing is about to collapse, I will seek professional advice and spend my own money to repair my fencing. I cannot be asking the council to repair my fencing, can I?
“If there are structural problems with the house, do you expect the council to take care of it, or do you hire professionals to handle the repairs and pay for it? Naturally, one would hire professionals.
“Similarly, YB Chong should assist these shop owners in seeking professional advice and repairing their properties, whether through total or partial demolition or by reinforcing existing structures to address the purported failures,” he said.
Lo pointed out that these are two-storey buildings, not towering structures, and that owners can individually repair their property or collaborate with neighbours to undertake joint renovations.
“My advice to YB Chong is to stop misleading the public and barking up the wrong tree.
“Stop pointing fingers when all you need to do as a responsible YB and MP is to advise private property owners to take charge of their properties and to remedy any structural defects found in their shophouses.” — DayakDaily
