Natazha giving his speech during the MPKu full board meeting.
Kulai’s goal of obtaining city status by 2025 is meant to encourage local council employees to improve their service delivery.
Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) president Natazha Hariss said it was up to the Johor and Federal governments to decide whether MPKu would be upgraded to a city council in three years.
“The aim to have MPKu’s status upgraded acts as motivation for those working in the council.
“We need to work towards improving services and infrastructure so that we will be ready when the time comes.
“Whether the dream becomes a reality is besides the point; the important thing is for us to upgrade our own thinking and working culture to be on par with a city council.
“The recognition can come later,” he said after chairing a full board meeting.
He added that the target appeared to be achievable as three years was a comfortable length of time to work towards it.
Earlier this year, Natazha said MPKu was targeting city status within the next three years and that the council was next in line after Pasir Gudang Municipal Council was upgraded in November last year.
“We currently have three city councils in the state.
“There are 11 indicators that the council needs to fulfil and the last indicator yet to be achieved is total population. We need at least 500,000 people living in Kulai,” he had said in January.
He added that based on the latest census conducted by MPKu, Kulai had a population of 320,000.
On a separate matter, Natazha said MPKu planned to continue the state government’s 100 Days Clean Johor initiative past the end of the campaign period.
“We will work hand-in-hand with the state government to achieve its goal of making Johor clean for 100 days but we also want to go beyond that time line.
“The initiative has been received well by the people of Kulai and many have also volunteered to take part in the cleaning exercise,” he said, adding that MPKu was currently engaging with the people to increase participation and awareness.
Natazha said cleaning activities under the programme were being carried out every Tuesday for around two hours each time.
The 100 Days Clean Johor initiative, launched on July 2, is aimed at cleaning up and keeping the state free of rubbish through various activities in all districts.
