By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 8: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has urged Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak to lend a hand instead of merely criticising, as the problem of illegal moneylender advertisements is a “cat-and-mouse” phenomenon that persists despite daily enforcement efforts.
Wee was responding to remarks by Michael Kong, special assistant to DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who alleged that illegal moneylender ads continue to flood Kuching without effective enforcement.
“The issue of illegal moneylender advertisements is an ongoing and recurring challenge faced not only by MBKS but by local authorities across the country.
“The very nature of these illegal operators is that advertisements removed today are often replaced overnight,” he said in a statement today.
He stressed that MBKS’ enforcement team, comprising just 40 officers covering an area of 61.53 square kilometres, faces heavy workloads spanning market inspections, hawker control, illegal dumping, building offences, dog licensing, parking enforcement, and other duties.
“To imply that MBKS enforcement officers are not doing their jobs is unfair and inaccurate,” he said, pointing out that personnel are deployed daily to remove illegal ads from streetlights, road signs, and other public infrastructure.
Wee highlighted that the council has taken proactive steps by formally writing to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to report the phone numbers and digital traces found on the illegal advertisements.
“As MCMC falls under the purview of a Deputy Minister from DAP, we hope Michael Kong can help expedite follow-up actions from MCMC and other relevant agencies,” he said.
He emphasised that enforcement against illegal moneylenders is not simply about removing stickers but requires coordinated action among multiple agencies, particularly MCMC and the police.
“There is no point in pointing fingers. Instead of using words to criticise others, we invite those who have the means to help us achieve practical results for the people,” he said.
MBKS reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public spaces and maintaining Kuching’s cleanliness and orderliness, while encouraging cooperation from community leaders, political representatives, and the public to report such ads via the iPeople app or directly to the MBKS Enforcement Division.
“Constructive engagement and shared responsibility will always yield better outcomes than mere criticism,” Wee added. — DayakDaily
