SANDAKAN: LDP Vice President Chong Thien Ming has welcomed and fully supported Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Noor’s call for local authorities (PBT) to review signage charges imposed on businesses, saying the issue should be examined statewide by all PBTs, including Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), especially for businesses in shopping malls and commercial centres.
He said signage and advertisement fees have been imposed for many years, often based on the size, measurement or type of signage. For business operators, these fees can become another recurring annual cost on top of the many licences, permits and regulatory charges they already pay, and those in shopping malls may already be paying substantial rental and management charges.
Chong said the Chief Minister’s statement was timely because many businesses, especially SMEs, were still recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many businesses are still surviving rather than thriving, while some have already closed down. At this stage, we should be looking at ways to reduce unnecessary operating costs and help businesses remain sustainable,” he said.
He also questioned whether all signage should automatically be treated as chargeable advertising, noting that a shop may represent five different suppliers or agencies and therefore have five product-related signboards.
“These are part of their normal business operations. Should the business owner be charged separately for every signboard simply because the supplier’s product name appears on it?” he asked.
Chong proposed that the Sabah Government establish a statewide review of signage and advertisement charges imposed by all PBTs, examining whether ordinary business identification signboards should continue to attract annual charges, whether supplier or product signboards should be treated differently from standalone commercial advertisements, the fees imposed on businesses inside shopping malls and commercial centres, whether existing charges burden SMEs excessively, differences in charges and policies between PBTs, and alternative revenue sources that can reduce PBT dependence on business-related fees.
“Every PBT should look at this issue from the perspective of helping businesses survive and grow. We should not have a situation where businesses are being encouraged to invest and beautify their premises on one hand, while being burdened with additional charges on the other,” Chong said.
He said the approach taken by Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) showed that local authorities could facilitate businesses while still maintaining proper regulations. He welcomed MPS’s initiative to encourage businesses to improve their signboards, including the use of box lighting and LED lighting, without imposing additional signage charges, as well as efforts to make business licence application and renewal more convenient.
Chong also cited Datuk Walter Kenson’s statement that business licence applications can be expedited when all required documents and requirements are properly fulfilled, describing this as a positive approach because business owners should not have to wait unnecessarily. He noted that business licence renewals are opened from August onwards for the following year, allowing operators to make renewal arrangements earlier and plan their operations accordingly. – James Leong
Chong said the Chief Minister’s statement was timely because many businesses, especially SMEs, were still recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
