KUCHING: Miri City Council (MCC) will continue to step up enforcement against illegal money-lending advertisements while working with other agencies to combat the growing problem, said Mayor Adam Yii.
When contacted by Utusan Sarawak, Yii stressed that the council’s ongoing operations to remove posters, placards and banners from public places are not just one-off exercises, but a routine programme.
“Under the Advertisement By-Laws, MCC does not permit the display of such illegal advertisements. We also act under the Cleanliness By-Laws, as these unwanted materials bring negative social and economic impacts, create an untidy city environment, and in some cases cause traffic obstruction and safety risks to road users,” Yii said.
He added that the council is cooperating with enforcement authorities directly tackling unlicensed moneylenders, providing them with information such as mobile numbers obtained during operations.
“Illegal moneylending and unlicensed gambling have destroyed the wellbeing of many families across Malaysia. Tackling this requires concerted efforts from all relevant authorities, from local councils to federal agencies like MCMC and the police,” Yii explained.
He also pointed out that the problem is not unique to Miri.
“These social ills are happening in all major towns in Malaysia, including Penang and Selangor. It is pointless for certain quarters to politicise the matter and single out local authorities as the cause,” he said.
Yii urged federal lawmakers and ministers to play their part in strengthening legislation to curb the proliferation of illegal moneylending and other related activities.
With consorted effort, only then can we really tackle the issue, he added.
By Connie Chieng