KUCHING, Dec 10 2025: The assessment rates in Sarawak, which have remained unchanged since 1970, will not be increased, despite the increase in costs of operations and public services.
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Caption: Dr Sim Kui Hian, flanked by his deputies Penguang Manggil (left)and Michael Tiang at the awards presentation ceremony.
Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian cited parking rate in Sarawak as an example that still is being charged at 20 sen for the first 30 minutes by each local council even after decades of implementation.
He explained that many local councils in other parts of the country have increased their assessment rates to the point where the parking rate can reach up to RM1 per hour.
"But why are we not increasing the assessment rates?” he asked at the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Awards ceremony here last night.
He explained that all council members and all parties involved are working hard to help the people, to ensure that the costs of living do not increase.
Dr Sim also called on local councils to continue to maintain high standards, especially in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) roadmap being implemented in Sarawak.
The minister explained that the implementation is currently above the national average but is necessary to maintain the standard which is termed as the higher 'Borneo Forest' standard.
"The important thing is that our Sarawak SDG Roadmap, whether it is a city council, a municipal council or a rural district council, must be above the national average.
"What does above the national average mean? It means we are better than 50 per cent, if not higher.
"This 'Borneo Forest' standard is important because as Sarawak moves forward, Sarawak by 2030 will be very different from today," he explained.
Present at the ceremony were Deputy Ministers Michael Tiang Ming Tee and Penguang Manggil, Permanent Secretary Elizabeth Loh, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Wee Hong Seng and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai.
