Councillor: Delays cause revenue loss for MPKu
Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) is urged to speed up the legalisation process for unlicensed factories in Seelong, Saleng and Sengkang industrial areas.
Taman Muhibbah Zone councillor Mohamad Hishamuddin Samuri said although operating licences had been issued to factory operators, the legalisation process had yet to take place.
He said these factories were also included in the industrial zone under the Kulai District Local Plan 2035.
He added that MPKu had set up a task force to carry out the legalising exercise.
“The legalisation process is quite slow, despite having reached the implementation phase,” said Hishamuddin.
“The delays are causing MPKu to lose out on its current revenue,” he said after the full council meeting at Menara MPKu in Kulai.
He suggested that the local council appoint a consultant to speed up the process if there was a shortage of staff to carry out the exercise.
He explained that the process aimed to bring older, unregistered factories into compliance, improve pollution control as well as monitor and enforce safety standards.
“There are about 300 factories operating in these three areas, involved in furniture, fabrication and light electrical industries for more than 20 years.”
Hishamuddin said the legalisation process would allow operators to obtain a Planning Permission, before any development, construction or subdivision of land could begin.
He said the Planning Permission ensured proposed projects complied with local planning regulations and land-use policies.
“A town hall session will be held in April and we hope the factory operators will attend,” he elaborated.
He also urged MPKu to review facilities at the Senai Industrial Park 1 to ensure that it was in line with the increase in assessment rates for industries effective this year.
According to Hishamuddin, the facilities are outdated, roads need upgrading and improvements are required for streetlighting and parking facilities.
“The industries understood the needs for MPKu to increase the assessment rates.
“At the same time, they also want the local council to look into their needs in line with the changing times,” he added.
