THE Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) in Penang hopes to attain city status in eight years.
MPSP president Datuk Mai-munah Sharif said the council had taken various efforts to ensure that it achieves the status by 2024.
“We are in the midst of impro-ving our software and hardware by fostering close partnership with developed cities to share their best practices in governance,” she added.
She said this in her speech at the council’s 42nd anniversary celebration at its headquarters in Bandar Perda on Saturday.
Maimunah, together with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, launched the council’s Reminiscence Book during the event.
The book, containing MPSP’s milestones and the development in Seberang Prai, was compiled with the aim of promoting Seberang Prai internationally.
“Since the establishment of the council’s International Corporate Communications Department in 2013, we have made a lot of achievements such as the signing of Memorandum Of Friendship City with Gwangju Metropolitan City and Seoul Metropolitan City in South Korea and Yokohama City Council in Japan.
“Yokohama City, Yokohama City University, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Universiti Sains Malaysia have also collaborated to study the Bukit Mertajam town design through the urban design concept,” Maimunah said.
She added that the council had also won the Best City and Best City Manager awards from the Europe Business Assembly.
She also launched the council’s Local Government Transformation Plan Open Day which was aimed at encouraging public participation in providing feedback to help the council improve on its performance and services.
Posters were exhibited to inform the public about the plans and they can submit their feedback using the survey forms provided.
There are six core points in the plan, namely Human Capital Development, Service Efficiency, Financial Strengthening, Citizen Welfare, Citizen Engagement and Effective Communication.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon and state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.