THE BORNEO POST: July 28, 2010, Wednesday
MIRI: The Miri City Council (MCC) will not compromise under its ‘Ops Patuh 2’, and will take on-the-spot legal action against offenders caught violating the various trading by-laws.
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FIRM: Enforcement officers of MCC confiscate goods and trading equipment from errant traders and illegal hawkers during Ops Patuh 2.
Ops Patuh 2 began yesterday after the expiry of a one-month grace period under Ops Patuh 1 during which hundreds of written and verbal warnings were given to errant traders.
“We carried out an awareness campaign under Ops Patuh 1, and reports from the public including from the media showed that many traders refused to cooperate. The matter had gone from bad to worst and the city has become a laughing stock,” mayor, Lawrence Lai Yew Son told reporters after launching Ops Patuh 2 at MCC yesterday
“We can’t allow the traders or anyone else to disregard the laws if Miri wants to continue to become a vibrant and progressive resort city.
“We have to strictly enforce the law; compound offenders on the spot and confiscate their goodies.”
He said they would first focus on the two ‘black’ areas – Tamu Muhibbah and the Mosjaya Commercial Centre – which are the most chaotic trading areas especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
“In Mosjaya, the situation worsens after 4pm. Some traders even use the bus stop to trade until it can’t serve its original purpose. There are many illegal traders and they occupy the parking spaces, which is not fair for the licensed traders who pay monthly rental fees of RM30 or RM360 per year,” he said.
“Some licensed ones also trade illegally outside the market area and even store their goodies in whatever spaces available. This has caused unnecessary congestion. Thus, Ops Patuh 2 will be carried out everyday in the two areas until the situation improves.”
He said illegal hawkers and those trading without licences could be compounded or fined by the court between RM50 and RM20,000 depending on the type of offences.
Earlier on when launching the operation, Lawrence urged all the 76 enforcement officers to diligently carry out their duties without fear or favour.
They are assisted by the police during the operation.
“We need to be consistent just like when we wage war against dengue fever. Ops Patuh 2 means giving compounds to offenders. No more oral or written warnings.”
“When carrying out your duties you have to be firm and fair, courageous and courteous. Do not to be rough and rude as you are representing the council. You are bound to meet with resistance, which where the police will help us,” urged Lai.
Lai added that after the operations against illegal traders in Tamu Muhibbah and Mosjaya commercial centre, Ops Patuh2 will be extended to other areas.
Among other things, the enforcement officers will look out for illegal dumping of rubbish, trading along five-foot ways and behind shops, and illegal businesses operations.
Ops Patuh was launched on the 25th of last month. It was the first such operation carried out on integrated basis involving 76 enforcement officers from six sections of the council.
He said the main objectives were to create an environment that is conducive to trading and to keep illegal trading in check.
Presently, there are 1,300 licensed hawkers in the city’s markets; 61 registered reflexology centres; and 600 registered restaurants.
The number of illegal ones is estimated at more than 200.
Deputy Mayor Mohd Chee Kadir, and the Standing Committee for Licensing and Enforcement chairman, Julaihi Mohamad were also present at the launch of Ops Patuh 2.
