Council mulls holding of events that generate income for locals

KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) wants to improve the socio-economy of the community by organising more income-generating international events.

According to its chairman Lo Khere Chiang, Padawan is an area with potential for eco-tourism and nature-oriented activities.

Talking to reporters after a dialogue session between Hash runners and village representatives, Lo advised the villagers to be involved in business when events were held in their areas.

“Villagers should take the opportunity to be creative by running income-generating activities and service during events,” he said.

The cottage industry could be developed, and the villagers sell jungle produce, he suggested.

The increased homestay programmes in the area meant the operators and tour agencies could cooperate in organising events that generate income for local players.

“The organisers and tour agencies could play an important role in developing the tourism industry and assist homestay operators or villagers to sell their products,” he suggested.

Citing the Padawan River Safari, Padawan Festival, Borneo Highlands Race and Hash Runs organised quite often in Padawan, he hoped cooperation with the local community could be enhanced to improve the socio-economy in the area.

Lo said the council would initiate efforts to promote various events and work closely with the organisers.

“Such activities should benefit the people, not create a problem for them but enhance their creativity in running a legitimate business.”

He therefore hoped for more communication between organisers and the local community.

Posted on October 16, 2010, Saturday

Council mulls holding of events that generate income for locals

 

KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) wants to improve the socio-economy of the community by organising more income-generating international events.

According to its chairman Lo Khere Chiang, Padawan is an area with potential for eco-tourism and nature-oriented activities.

Talking to reporters after a dialogue session between Hash runners and village representatives, Lo advised the villagers to be involved in business when events were held in their areas.

“Villagers should take the opportunity to be creative by running income-generating activities and service during events,” he said.

The cottage industry could be developed, and the villagers sell jungle produce, he suggested.

The increased homestay programmes in the area meant the operators and tour agencies could cooperate in organising events that generate income for local players.

“The organisers and tour agencies could play an important role in developing the tourism industry and assist homestay operators or villagers to sell their products,” he suggested.

Citing the Padawan River Safari, Padawan Festival, Borneo Highlands Race and Hash Runs organised quite often in Padawan, he hoped cooperation with the local community could be enhanced to improve the socio-economy in the area.

Lo said the council would initiate efforts to promote various events and work closely with the organisers.

“Such activities should benefit the people, not create a problem for them but enhance their creativity in running a legitimate business.”

He therefore hoped for more communication between organisers and the local community.

Borneo Post: Posted on October 16, 2010, Saturday

Lo Khere Chiang as MPP chairman and SUPP leader

 

Saturday, 28 August 2010 10:41 | Written by Connie Chieng 

Lo Khere Chiang has always stayed out of the limelight, preferring to work behind the scene and letting his bosses take charge. A polite and soft spoken man, Lo is known to be a person of few words. For years, he has been staying in the shadow of his superiors, not wanting to outshine them in any way.

Today, as the chairman of the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), a transformation has taken place over the once quiet man. Speaking with authority and definitely knowing his job well, Lo plunges into his new job whole-heartedly.

Fully aware that the job is a political appointee, Lo certainly knows how to balance it as MPP chairman and a politician. Taking an hour of his precious time one morning, Lo explains his dual positions, the second being the secretary of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kota Sentosa branch.

Although two months and two days into the job, Lo took to his job like duck to water. He was once a councillor and later an engineer in the council which gave him the benefit of learning the ropes long ago.

From serious matters to people asking for hand-outs, Lo has tactfully and diplomatically dealt without offending anyone.

Speaking of his dreams to see MPP as a model council for the state, Lo likens the running of the council like running a miniature government. “When I first walked into the office, I promise myself that I must be fair to people of all races irrespective of their religion or political leaning, and to see that MPP flourish to become one of the best councils,” he said.

His first couple of weeks was not uneventful. As an engineer, he was only incharge of a section planning and designing projects for clients but as the chairman, it is a different ball game all together. Having heard of people wanting handouts, Lo experienced it the hard way.

People of all walks of life will drop by with serious to domestic problems. “I have a guy who came asking for cash, saying he needs to eat. I don’t want to encourage such people, especially when they are not sick and able to help, but I gave in and gave him RM100. The man then said he wanted RM200 for no good reason.

“Another man came in with a traffic summons, expecting me to help him settle it. I refused. I told him if he committed an offence, he has to face the consequences,” he said.

Then there were people who came in and told Lo of their domestic problems. He could only advise.

However, as time passes by, Lo gets better at handling the situation.

There were genuine poor people who wanted helping and Lo said mostly they wanted to have a hawker licence and tried his best to assist them. He was most concerned about the roads, the maintenance of drains and roads and other infrastructure facilities in areas under MPP jurisdiction. However, the most pressing matter is the lack of fund and the fact that Padawan is a huge area.

Padawan has a population of 305,000 with a total of 60,000 properties.

It stretches from Mile 3 to Telaga Air, Borneo Heights and Tapah. Among the three councils in Kuching Division, Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), MPP, formerly known as Kuching Rural District council, is the largest with 1,431.82 sq kilometres and the majority of the population is Chinese.

“It is a big area and we have assessment rate revenue of RM32 million a year, which is very low compared to the other two councils.

I am now waiting for the 10th Malaysia Plan under which we will have money to start on new projects.

By then, we will know the more urgent projects,” he said.

On fairness, Lo is concerned about the tender practice in the council. Wanting to give every contractor a chance, he said he wants an open tender where the project will go to the lowest bidder. “I know at times some tenders would go to contractors who did not bid the lowest and this is something I want to stop,” he said.

Lo said there was always talk of the lowest bidder not being able to do a good job. “From Day1, I put my foot down; I know how the whole thing is being done. I am an engineer and I know if there is a careful administration of the project. There is no reason for the lowest bidder not being able to do a good job. I have informed my committee and the other relevant parties in the council of the transparent changes that must take place,” he pointed out.

Fairness to Lo is not to be said but seen to be done. He has also hold meetings with contractors of his intention and he wants every one of them to be given a chance to bid for a project but there must be no corners cut. Saying that he was not in the council to victimise people, Lo called for understanding and cooperation to make drastic changes for the better of MPP. “What is Padawan’s gain is the people’s gain,” he added.

Warning contractors to do a clean job, Lo said he would not hesitate to blacklist them and have their licence revoked if jobs were done in a sloppy manner. “When given the chance to perform, the contractors must prove their worth,” he said.

Lo’s intention to do his job well is also for his party’s sake. Speaking objectively of his ailing party (SUPP), he believed that with him doing a good job, it would auger well for the party.

“What I do will be scrutinised as an SUPP member. In my own small ways, I want to achieve the best for the council and if that happens, it can indirectly win the people over to our party. After all, I represent my party,” he added.

On his party being in the lowest ebb, Lo philosophically pointed out that nothing stayed down forever.

“What goes up must go down and vice versa. We will not stay down forever. Of course, everyone has to work towards the tough journey of climbing up as people’s expectations are getting higher. We have a grand history and at times, it is good to learn from the past and the mistakes made,” he said.

Wanting to take the party’s present situation in a more positive note, Lo believed that the situation was sort of a wake-up call to the leaders and members. He reasoned that despite looking at the past, different strategies needed to be applied to this present era to suit the changing trend of the people’s thinking.

“A party is like a business. Once a business grows bigger, it is naturally more difficult to run and more ideas should be planted in to make the business flourish,” he said.

On the issue of opposition, Lo pointed out that if an opposition member came in with a genuine problem, he would handle it if it would benefit the people. “I am not going to let prejudice sets in, be it the poor or rich, government or opposition. My main aim is to serve the people,” he stated.

On his immediate plan, Lo is eyeing a project for a wholesale market.

A wholesale market is urgently needed to cater to the demand in both Kuching and Samarahan.

Wanting to house the market under a building but not too far from the city, Lo said it would solve the problems of wholesalers plying their trade all over the city.

Another project Lo wants to undertake is a hawker centre for MJC (Batu Kawah New Township) which is currently and temporarily set up at the parking lot.

“At the moment, the hawkers are there to bring additional businesses to the township. It’s a win-win situation but there will come a day when they need a proper area. I am looking for area either at MJC or Mile 7.

I hope the private sector can come in to help on this,” he said.

On rumours that he is likely to be a candidate during the next state election, Lo refused to be swayed by such thoughts. “There are a lot of capable and aspiring members out there. Let me concentrate on my job first,” he said.

Married with two teenage children, Lo enjoys chilling out with them and his wife at a good movie or having a simple meal out in the city whenever he is free.

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

---

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