Melaka: Four local government authorities (PBTs) in Melaka collected more than RM407 million in revenue last year while successfully implementing 537 development and maintenance projects to improve public facilities and services, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the local authorities also resolved 99 per cent of the more than 13,300 public complaints received, which was highlighted as a true measure of a PBT's performance. Chief Minister Ab Rauf emphasized that the genuine benchmark of a local authority's success is the efficiency in addressing public grievances rather than just the revenue generated or the number of projects completed. He made these remarks while officiating the Melaka State Local Authorities Grand Assembly 2026 at the Hang Jebat Stadium grounds.
The event was also attended by State Housing, Local Government, Drainage, Climate Change and Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin. Ab Rauf noted that Melaka's local authorities have been recognized with numerous accolades at both national and regional levels, showcasing their commitment to service excellence.
Among the accolades, the Historical City of Melaka Council (MBMB) was awarded the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard 2026-2028 recognition and the Diamond Recognition Award under the Low Carbon Cities 2030 Challenge. The Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) received the ASEAN 5th Certificate of Recognition for Clean Small Cities and the ASEAN Public Toilet Standard Award 2025-2027. Meanwhile, the Alor Gajah Municipal Council (MPAG) was acknowledged by the Accountant General's Department for its compliance with the Standard Accounting System.
The Jasin Municipal Council (MPJ) was ranked among the top 10 in the 'Excellent' category under the 2025 Values Practice Management System and successfully completed its Bureaucracy Reform Project (RKB) to improve the development of public facility reserve land. Ab Rauf stressed that these recognitions should not breed complacency but should instead inspire continuous improvement in performance for the remainder of the year.
He outlined four key priorities to enhance the performance of local authorities by the end of the year. The first is to optimize the use of public assets to generate greater revenue and improve public well-being by identifying underutilized assets like buildings, markets, and recreational parks. Ab Rauf stated that assets with value potential should be revitalized to benefit public services.
The second priority focuses on enhancing the quality of public service delivery through regular reviews and strengthening of standard operating procedures (SOPs), improving equipment and staff training, maintaining proper operational records, and ensuring officers understand their responsibilities and powers. He emphasized that all actions, whether related to stray animal captures or enforcement activities, must be conducted professionally.