Sarawak DAP Youth chides Miri City Council over MyKiosk 'failure'
Sarawak DAP Youth has condemned the Miri City Council (MCC) over allegedly failing to execute the government's MyKiosk project, which aims to modernise roadside hawker businesses.
Its chief Peter Hee reportedly accused MCC of allowing the project - which began in 2022 and saw 10 kiosks constructed across Miri - to go to waste, with many kiosks abandoned and deteriorating.
According to Borneo Post, Hee blamed the local authority for...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
Call for urgent action on soil erosion threat in Miri's Taman Lai Pau
Ling points to the torn canvas used to cover the eroded slope in Taman Lai Pau. MIRI (June 19): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary Alan Ling has urged the Miri City Council (MCC) to take immediate and decisive action to address a serious case of soil erosion in Taman Lai Pau, which has been troubling residents since early January this year. Ling said he received numerous complaints from residents regarding a landslide caused by soil erosion during the rainy season earlier this year. The incident reportedly led to a significant amount of soil slipping into the drainage system, blocking water flow and posing a risk of drain collapsing. 'This issue is extremely concerning and could potentially endanger the safety of those living nearby,' he said, adding that residents have repeatedly lodged complaints, fearing the worsening of the erosion. He said he had formally written to the MCC regarding the issue and also forwarded a copy of the letter to the Land and Survey Department Miri in late April, shortly after residents alerted him to the problem. However, Ling expressed disappointment that no follow-up action has been taken to date. In addition to the formal letter, he said a report was also submitted through the Talikhidmat complaint system in an effort to draw the attention of the relevant authorities. He highlighted that the canvas used to temporarily cover the eroded area has since torn due to prolonged exposure, worsening the situation. 'Every time it rains, more soil flows into the drain, causing further blockages and increasing the risk of the drainage system collapsing,' he explained. Ling warned that continued delays by the authorities could lead to a disaster that may cost lives. 'We cannot afford to wait until a tragedy happens before taking this seriously. The safety and well-being of the residents must be a priority,' he stressed. In view of this, Ling urged MCC and other responsible agencies to take proactive and effective steps to resolve the issue before the next rainy season arrives. 'This is an emergency. It must be treated with urgency and not be pushed aside,' he added. Alan Ling landslide lead miri soil erosion Taman Lai Pau
Borneo Post
13-06-2025
- Borneo Post
MyKiosk project a 'national embarrassment', SUPP Piasau man calls for full audit
Tan shows the signboard of the MyKiosk scheme during the visit. MIRI (June 13): Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Piasau branch has urged the federal government to launch a full audit of the MyKiosk project, which has drawn growing public criticism over its implementation and impact. Its publicity secretary Tan Lik Jin said the project, initially promoted as an initiative to support small traders, has instead become a national embarrassment due to inflated costs, poor site selection, and low usage. 'This is a high-cost, low-impact project that has rightfully drawn criticism from the people across political lines,' said Tan, who is also a councillor with Miri City Council (MCC), in a statement. He cited concerns over kiosks costing up to RM25,000 each, many of which are located in remote and rarely frequented areas, and questioned the transparency of the tender process. Tan also criticised leaders from Miri Democratic Action Party (DAP) for remaining silent during initial calls for accountability, only to later shift blame to local councils. 'The truth is, this project was fully initiated and managed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Malaysia, under a DAP minister. Local authorities had no decision-making power, only implementation role,' he said. 'For Miri DAP to point fingers at the local level while shielding their own party colleague in Putrajaya is not only dishonest, it is a betrayal of public trust.' He went on to accuse DAP of engaging in 'termite-style destruction', portraying themselves as champions of accountability in public while quietly serving the interests of political allies in Peninsular Malaysia. Tan added that the failure of the MyKiosk project was not limited to Sarawak, citing similar issues in Pakatan Harapan-governed states such as Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan where kiosks have reportedly been left empty and underutilised. 'If even these states cannot make the project work, how can they blame local authorities here in Sarawak?' he questioned. Tan urged the federal government to carry out a full audit of project expenditures, contractor appointments, site selection processes, and actual kiosk usage data ― and to release the findings to the public. 'Taxpayer money has been wasted. The people deserve answers, not excuses,' he stressed. He also called on Miri DAP to stop the 'political theatre' and hold their federal leaders accountable. miri MyKiosk national embarrassment SUPP
Borneo Post
12-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Stagger SST rollout for SMEs, young entrepreneurs, Dapsy S'wak chief urges MOF
Hee says while Sarawak's youth are ready to contribute to national development, they 'need space to breathe, grow, and recover'. MIRI (June 12): The Ministry of Finance should apply a staggered rollout of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) expansion to allow time for young entrepreneurs and small businesses in Sarawak to adapt, said Peter Hee. The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak chief argued that unlike places like the Klang Valley, the state's business ecosystem is not tax-ready as many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) still rely on manual systems, especially in smaller towns and rural districts. 'As many businesses are yet to adopt digital invoicing or have access to accounting support, pushing them into a complex tax system overnight would be unfair and likely to cause non-compliance through confusion rather than intent. 'Tax reform must be fair – not just administratively efficient. If the government's intention is to increase revenue, it must not do so by pushing young and small entrepreneurs out of business,' he said in a statement. He said while Sarawak's youth are ready to contribute to national development, they 'need space to breathe, grow, and recover'. 'Let's not tax away their future before it begins,' he added. The Ministry of Finance has announced that the expansion of the SST effective this July 1, covering a wide range of services including private healthcare, education, financial services, construction, leasing, and personal care. According to Hee, the announcement has raised serious concern among youth entrepreneurs and small business owners in Sarawak. He said while Dapsy Sarawak supports responsible tax reform, it must be fair, inclusive, and sensitive to the realities on the ground, especially in Borneo. 'Sarawak's young entrepreneurs are showing remarkable initiative by venturing into business. Many are self-employed, running cafés, mobile salons, creative services, and online shops. 'However, they are already operating under pressure of rising electricity and rental costs; a weak ringgit affecting imports; as well as higher labour costs and compliance overheads, all while still in the process of post-pandemic recovery.' Hee believes that introducing a broader SST at this stage could be a tipping point as these small businesses would either have to raise prices – potentially losing customers – or absorb the cost and risk shutting down. Instead of targeting micro-enterprises, he said Putrajaya should focus on addressing tax avoidance by high-income individuals, corporate loopholes and monopolistic sectors that contribute less than their fair share to the government's coffers. 'It sends the wrong message when small local traders are taxed while mega-profits go untaxed.' He said Dapsy Sarawak is proposing the government exempt SMEs with under RM500,000 in annual revenue from the initial SST rollout; create a tax transition fund to support SMEs in system upgrades and tax literacy; and establish a youth enterprise relief scheme offering a three-year SST exemption for entrepreneurs under the age of 30. 'Sarawak should also be included in national tax policy conversations through an East Malaysia Tax Advisory Council,' he said. DAPSY Finance Ministry MoF Peter Hee SST
