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THE Penampang Council is undertaking a “Program Kedai Angkat (Shop Adoption Programme)” in a bid to transform commercial centres around the municipality into cleaner, more orderly and by-law compliant areas.

To this end, Country Heights Plaza was chosen as the Council’s first “adoptee”.

A spokeswoman for the Municipal Council’s Enforcement Division said a 62-strong team from the agency was involved in three-phase operation at the shophouse blocks there earlier this month as part of the programme.

She said the first phase saw its Enforcement, Engineering, Health, Licencing, Landscaping, Urban Services, Valuation and Management Services personnel making a preliminary inspection of the property on Oct 17.

“They assessed the condition of the common areas, issued friendly notices to the relevant proprietors and formulated a potential action plan for the commercial centre during this visit,” she said.

The Council’s staff returned less than a week later, according to her, for the second phase which involved an engagement session with the shop-operators at Country Heights Plaza.

“Our staff, later, worked side by side with 22 of these rate-payers to carry out a ‘gotong-royong (community clean-up)’ of the area on Oct 21.”

A spokesman for the Landscaping Division said its workers desludged the drains and cleared the pockets of mud which had been deposited beside the pavements there.

They also pruned five trees on the grounds, according to him. 

“An excavator, open truck and sky-lift were deployed to assist with these efforts, he said.”

A spokesman for the Council’s Engineering Division said its personnel took measurements of those drains which required the agency’s attention.

“We noted that 14 structures placed over the drains were missing and 27 covers were damaged. On top of this, three concrete slabs and one metal ‘chamber’ cover were observed to have deteriorated.”

He said the agency intended to replace these affected fixtures and improve the drainage servicing the shops at the Plaza.

“In the case of the missing grills, we suspect that they may have been targeted by used-metal thieves. We may have closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at strategic locations around the shophouses to try and catch the culprits red handed.”

The Enforcement spokeswoman said the final phase of the “Program Kedai Angkat” was dubbed the “legalisation, compliance and maintenance” Phase.

She said the Council set up a counter near the shophouses October 22 as part of this Phase.

“For two days our staff listened to complaints from the proprietors, besides helping them check on their assessment. Payment was received from any who wished to clear their accounts.

“Applications were received from shop-operators who wished to make use of the section of the five-foot-way outside their shops.”

She said its Health, Enforcement and Licencing personnel also checked for related infractions. 

A spokesman for the agency’s Health Division said compounds amounting in total to RM400 were issued to two eatery owners.

He said the pair were found to have contravened the Penampang Municipal Council’s (Food and Eating Premises) By-laws 2022.

“One was taken to task for not sending his staff for the necessary food handling course and for failing to obtain health cards for these employees,” he said.

“The other was penalised because the grease trap in his/ her kitchen did not meet our requirements. It had not been installed according to the Council’s specifications and was not being cleaned properly.”

He said there were 10 eateries based at the Plaza.

“Each of these operators was notified about improving the cleanliness and other conditions involving their premises. Seven of this number achieved a ‘B’ per the Council’s grading system.” 

The spokeswoman said its Enforcement officers confiscated a cabinet used to store cleaning implements which had been placed on a five-foot-way.

“They also worked with a tow-truck operator which we had hired to remove five abandoned vehicles from around the Plaza. 

“Notices had earlier been affixed to 18 such automobiles. 13 of vehicle owners did their due diligence to take their property away before our staff came back with the tow-truck.”

She said Enforcement personnel worked with their Licencing peers to dismantle five sign boards around the property.

These structures did not comply with the requirements stipulated in the Penampang Municipal Council’s (Advertisements) By-laws 1978, according to her. 

“The Council is looking forward to adopting more commercial centres, especially those further way from Donggongon, next year. 

“We hope the ‘Program Kedai Angkat’ will help us forge a stronger relationship with the business community in Penampang.”