(Miri, 22nd) Sarawak DAP Youth Chief, Hii Lik Gen, calls on the Miri City Council to promptly provide a clear explanation of follow-up work after this year's Miri Food Festival, organized by the council, and raised three key issues aimed at addressing citizens' doubts and concerns.
He stated that the Miri Food Festival, as a major event long anticipated by citizens, has made a positive contribution to promoting local economic development and cultural exchange. However, since the event ended, it remains unknown whether the Miri City Council has conducted a review meeting and transparently disclosed the details of the event's expenses.
He pointed out that review meetings are essential procedures to be conducted after large-scale events, primarily to summarize event expenses, experiences, and areas of deficiency to formulate improvement plans for future events.
"The Miri City Council should make the results of the review meeting public to demonstrate to citizens the actual effectiveness and room for improvement behind the event, thereby enhancing public trust in the Miri City Council."
Hii Lik Gen emphasized that the Miri City Council has a responsibility to account to the public for all expenses involved during the Miri Food Festival, including specific sources and uses of planning, venue, promotion, and business support costs.
He stated that financial transparency is a fundamental principle of public institutions, and citizens have the right to know whether the distribution and use of event funds are compliant.
He urged the Miri City Council to take the following three measures: to publish the review meeting results of the Miri Food Festival, including a summary report and future improvement plans, to release a detailed expense list explaining the source and actual use of funds, and to commit to a transparent communication mechanism.
Hii Lik Gen said that as citizens, we support the Miri City Council in organizing more events benefiting the public, but this must be built on transparency and openness.
"The Miri City Council should respond to citizens' concerns with actual actions, promptly publish relevant reports and data, restore public confidence in its management capabilities, and reshape the image of the Miri City Council."
He emphasized that the transparency and sense of responsibility of the Miri City Council will directly affect public support for future events and social benefits.