SANDAKAN: Sandakan Member of Parliament, Vivian Wong Shir Yee, conducted an inspection in Kampung Sim Sim alongside several authorities, including the district police, the Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ), Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS), Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP), and Parliamentary Service Centre Coordinator cum Councillor Tang Szu Ching.
The inspection targeted vehicles believed to have been left unused or abandoned in public parking spaces. According to Vivian, around 80 vehicles were found in neglected conditions, with some even being repurposed as storage spaces, posing public health and sanitation risks.
She emphasized that public parking spaces should be fairly utilized by the community. However, such misuse not only deprives others of needed parking but could also become breeding grounds for mosquitoes due to stagnant water and overgrown weeds.
MPS had issued official notices to the owners of the affected vehicles, giving them a two-week period to remove their vehicles. However, most notices were ignored. As a result, MPS will introduce new guidelines and stricter enforcement measures against non-compliant owners.
Meanwhile, JPJ will issue summonses to illegally parked commercial vehicles, while LPKP will also take appropriate action against identified violations.
Vivian urged residents who spot abandoned vehicles in public areas to take photos and report them to the Sandakan Parliament Service Centre hotline at 010-807 3313 for further action.
She expressed gratitude to all involved agencies and hoped that such efforts would help improve cleanliness, public order, and the well-being of Sandakan residents.
Meanwhile, a fire completely destroyed a wooden house in Kampung Lung Manisin in Beluran early Friday, according to the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department.
Authorities received an emergency distress call via the MERS999 at 12.47am, with firefighters from the Beluran Fire and Rescue Station arriving at the remote location at 2.10am after a 45-kilometre journey.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control within six minutes of arrival and completely extinguished it by 3.26am. The operation was conducted by six personnel from Beluran Fire and Rescue Station. No casualties were reported. Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire.
