KUANTAN: Five categories have been identified to help local authorities to concentrate on in order to achieve city status by mid next year.
They are cleanliness, landscape maintenance, legal and qualified employees, installation of Jawi signages, and proper business licences and tax system.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Abdul Rahim Muda said they were guidelines to further improve the services not only for Pahang folk but also tourists.
He said enforcement checks would be carried out tomorrow, and no excuses would be entertained.
“The guidelines are to make it easier for everyone including members of the public in dealing with the local council in Pahang.
“What we have mentioned today is nothing new. They have been implemented for a while now and it is time for enforcement to start,” he said at a press conference today.
He said the implementation of Jawi signages at business premises was announced earlier this year.
Fines would be imposed on businesses yet to add Jawi script on their signages starting tomorrow, he said, adding the penalty was RM250 for first-timers and repeat offender would face suspension of their business licences.
In terms of cleanliness, Abdul Rahim said councils needed to ensure garbage was not strewn on the roads, while food premises should strive to obtain grade A certification.
He said food handlers, especially foreigners, should have valid appropriate work permits and fulfil all health requirements, while food premises located by roadside or at any unsuitable locations would be moved elsewhere.
“This is to ensure the food stalls do not block traffic. We have seen cases where cars knock into food stalls, injuring or killing the people there. We want to avoid this."
Abdul Rahim also said there would be a special committee to address dengue fever in the state.
Kuantan would be getting two new gateways in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020. The first gateway will be located near Plaza Tol Kuantan and the other at Gambang.
“The gates worth RM5 million have Pahang Palace elements to its design and structure.
“This project has already received the blessing by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah,” he said.
Abdul Rahim said the local council had also decided to remove the 70 per cent tax discount for business premises which utilise light box signage because of abuse.
“Checks revealed that many businesses claiming the discount do not actually have the light box signage,” he said.