SIBU, Sept 27: Local authorities in the State have been told to utilise the open spaces under their jurisdiction to earn extra revenue.
Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said they could derive income by converting such spaces into either a carpark area, a food hub with stalls or as a venue for entertainment.
“These open spaces have been vested with the council. It does not necessarily mean that they belong to the council. Just vested to look after and take care of it. But what the council can do with this open land is they can apply to have the land alienated to them so that they can do whatever they think is necessary,” he told reporters after chairing a dialogue with local authorities in the central region today.
Earlier at the dialogue, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting said there are 500 open spaces vested under the council which it needs to maintain.
According to Ting, these open spaces have been mostly left idle due to various issues. — DayakDaily
