KOTA KINABALU: Uncut grass. Accumulating garbage. Potholes big enough to swallow a lorry.

       The state assembly here yesterday heard a range of complaints raised by assemblymen from Sandakan who said that taxpayers were unhappy.

       These included irregular garbage collection, uncut grass and potholes not taken care of by the municipal council amid efforts to acquire city status for Sandakan.

       The assemblymen – Datuk Frankie Poon (DAP-Tanjung Papat), George Hiew (Warisan-Karamunting) and Calvin Chong (IND-Elopura) – also claimed that local folk were in the dark about the duties of the appointed councillors.

       They accused the councillors of non-performance, saying that the people did not know to whom they could channel their complaints.

       Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who seemed surprised at the claims, said he would look into the matter.

       “I will bring it up with the Sandakan council,” he said.

       As for the potholes, he said: “I don’t know if it is under the council’s jurisdiction to repair them or the Public Works Department (JKR).

       “I will ask our Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin to check it.”

       Masidi said councillors were appointed on recommendations by local leaders in the area.