MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang pledges service in line with 1Malaysia concept

MPP chairman pledges service in line with 1Malaysia concept

Lo Khere Chiang takes his oath as Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman. Picture: Bernama

KUCHING

Monday, June 28, 2010

NEWLY-SWORN Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang yesterday pledged to deliver excellent municipal services, in line with the 1Malaysia concept of "People First, Performance Now".

The 50-year-old consultant engineer took his oath of office before Sarawak Assistant Minister of Environment Datuk Peter Nansian, who represented Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh at the ceremony.

Also present were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Tan Joo Phoi, other MPP councillors and local community leaders.

"Having served as a councillor of MPP for a number of years, I am well aware of the difficulties that one could encounter in leading and managing a vast area," said Lo, after the swearing-in ceremony at Banguan MPP in Kota Padawan near here.

The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Sentosa branch secretary said, it would be a challenge to meet the ratepayers' expectation of a higher standard of service at the 1,431.8 sq km municipality which boasts a 300,000-strong population comprising Bidayuh, Chinese, Malays and Ibans.

Lo, whose appointment took effect from June 21, following intense lobbying for the post over the past few months, thanked the SUPP leadership, as well as other Barisan Nasional component parties for their trust and confidence in him being appointed the new MPP chairman.

Bernama

Khere Chiang sworn in as PMC chairman

Saturday, 26 June 2010 09:51 |Posted New Sarawak Tribune

“Having been a PMC councillor for a number of years, I am well aware of the many difficulties that one would encounter in the management of the council”

LO KHERE CHIANG

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KUCHING: Lo Khere Chiang, 50, was sworn in as the 17th chairman of Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) yesterday. He will serve a two-year term effective June 21 this year.

Lo, an engineer by profession, took his oath of office and then signed a Letter of Appointment before Assistant Minister of Environment Datuk Peter Nansian who represented Second Minister of Finance and Minister of Public Health and Environment Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

In his acceptance speech, Lo thanked Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, and leaders of SUPP and other state BN component parties for their trust and confidence in appointing him as the PMC chairman.

He also said he would work hard like all his predecessors in setting a high standard in the way they administered the council, and that he would follow in their footsteps to ensure that the people in the PMC jurisdiction would be well served.

“Having been a PMC councillor for a number of years, I am well aware of the many difficulties that one would encounter in the management of the council.

“Many of the challenges arise, in part, from the vastness of the Padawan area - 1,431.83 square km in total – its population mix, and also its unique mix of urban, semirural and rural composition. It has a population of about 306,000 made up of Bidayuh, Chinese, Malay and Iban.

“On top of all these, the council has limited resources. It only has some 60,000 holdings which contribute RM19,637,500 in revenue or 53.55 percent of the total revenue of RM36,671,780. Tax payers, on the other hand are demanding more and better services.” The council’s main source of income is assessment rates which stand at RM15 million (based on 2005 figure).

He, however, expressed his confidence that with the full support from all the councillors, community leaders, government agencies, council staff and the local people, the council would be able to deliver high quality services to the people based on the concept of ‘1Malaysia – People First, Performance Now’.

Wong (Soon Koh), whose text of speech was read by Nansian, meanwhile said the roles of the chairman and councillors in managing the PMC were vital to ensure that all policies that had been formulated and decision made were accurate and relevant with the current situation and needs.

“I, therefore, urge all the councillors to equip and prepare themselves to become leaders who are dynamic, visionary, knowledgeable and full of integrity.” He was confident that under Lo’s leadership, the PMC would continue to move forward and provide good municipality services to all the people in its jurisdiction.

The swearing-in ceremony, held at the council chamber in Kota Padawan, was also attended by Lo’s predecessor, Tan Joo Phoi, who has been made Assistant Minister of Environment, Dr Penguang Manggil the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Public Health, PMC deputy chairman Haji Mohd Hashim Yap, secretary Michael Saweng, Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loi (another former PMC chairman), councillors and community leaders.

Lo: I’ll carry on the good work of my predecessors

Lo: I’ll carry on the good work of my predecessors

NEWLY-APPOINTED Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang has pledged to serve everyone fairly, regardless of race or religion.

“As politicians, we’re here to serve the people and the council is here to serve the people, particularly the less fortunate,” said the 50-year-old engineer and MPP councillor minutes after Deputy Chief Minister and SUPP president Tan Sri Dr George Chan announced the appointment in Kuching.

Lo said he would do his best and carry on the good work of previous chairman who had done a lot for the council and people,” he said when contacted yesterday, .

He said the appointment meant a lot to him as he practically “grew up” with MPP, starting his engineering career with the council, previously known as Kuching Rural District Council.

Lo first served as a councillor for MPP between 1992 and 1997, and returned to serve again in 2009.

He hoped his chairmanship would serve as a platform to help SUPP to regain some lost ground among voters during the 2006 state election where the party lost eight seats to opposition and independent candidates.

“We hope to win back their confidence,” he said.

Lo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Glasgow University, Scotland in 1983. He is the managing director of Jurutera CMP (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.

He joined SUPP in 1984 and currently is the party’s Sentosa branch secretary. Among others, he is the advisor to Lo Clan Association Kuching, Min Lit Batu Kawa Secondary School, Batu Kawa Chung Hua Primary School and Chung Hua Primary School 4 1/2 Mile Penrissen Road.

Lo is a member of Institute of Engineers Malaysia and has served as its treasurer for Sarawak branch from 2002 until this year.

Lo is married to Margaret Lim and they have two children.

The Star Friday, 18 Jun 2010

By ZORA CHAN

image: https://media.thestar.com.my/Prod/6300A9E3-F1A9-4C4A-9320-407EE0675827


Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2010/06/18/lo-ill-carry-on-the-good-work-of-my-predecessors#YXxgtGcV0ZhbiZuQ.99