Ting (second left) and Ho jointly touch the screen to symbolically declare open the SMC Innovation cum Customer Day 2026.
SIBU (Oct 4): The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) needs to strike a balance between introducing innovation and meeting the needs of the people it serves, said State Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang.
He said as a local authority, SMC served the people of Sibu, who were ultimately the council’s customers.
“Any innovation introduced by the council must therefore not only achieve administrative or technological progress, but must also serve the needs and interests of the people,” he said during the opening of SMC Innovation cum Customer Day 2026 at Wisma Sanyan yesterday.
His text of speech was delivered by his special assistant, Boston Ho.
Tiang, the assemblyman for Pelawan, also said innovation would often encounter resistance, citing the implementation of the Smart Parking System as an example, with concerns and complaints involving the application, payment process, enforcement and difficulties faced by some senior citizens in adapting to the system.
He said local authorities faced criticism both when introducing changes, and when failing to keep pace with digitalisation.
“Many decisions affect the daily lives of the people and will naturally attract differing views,” he added.
In this regard, Tiang said SMC must have the firmness and confidence in implementing the measures that it genuinely believed were necessary and beneficial to the common good, but firmness must be accompanied by carefulness and humility.
“The council must remain willing to listen to the people, to recognise genuine shortcomings or implementation issues when they arise, and to make changes or adjustments when they are necessary,” he said.
He said innovation did not mean every new system would be perfect from the outset, as weaknesses might only become apparent after implementation and use by a large number of people.
“This is also why Customer’s Day is meaningful. It provides an opportunity for the public to better understand the work and responsibilities of the council, and at the same time allowing the council to better understand the concerns and expectations of the people it serves,” he said, also expressing appreciation to SMC chairman Clarence Ting, the councillors and staff who were often at the forefront of addressing public issues and complaints.
Meanwhile in his remarks, Ting spoke about a smart city not being defined by how advanced the technology was, but by how well it could improve people’s life.
“It is about safer streets for our children, accessible spaces for our elderly folks and better services for every resident.
“This is why our Smart City Action Plan is closely aligned with our commitment as a Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) Candidate City and as part of the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) Network.”
On SMC’s part, Ting said it was empowering children through platforms like the Sibu Child Council by giving them a voice.
“They are not just the future, but are also part of today’s solutions.
“We are also supporting our elderly folks by improving accessibility, promoting active ageing, and ensuring they remain connected and valued in our community.
“We are also driving digitalisation by making our services faster, simpler and more transparent. Whether it is smart systems, digital platforms, or data-driven decisions, every innovation must make life easier for our people.”
