Section 131
In addition to any other powers conferred upon it by this
of Local Authorities Ordinance, 1996
Ordinance or by any other written laws, a local authority shall have power to do all or any of the following things:
(a)
to erect, maintain and keep in repair buildings as may be required for local authority purposes and for the accommodation of local authority staff;
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(b)
to plant, trim or remove trees;
(c)
(i)
to construct, maintain, supervise and control public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children’s playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia, community centres and refreshment rooms;
(ii)
to sublease, acquire, let, layout, plant, improve, equip and maintain land for the purpose of being used as public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children’s playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia and community centres and to erect thereon any pavilion, recreation room or refreshment room or other buildings;
(iii)
to support or contribute to the support of public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children’s playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia, community centres and charitable, religious, educational, social or welfare organisations or institutions;
(iv)
to maintain or contribute or provide assistance to the maintenance of historical buildings or sites and, with the approval of the Minister, acquire any land, with or without buildings, for the purpose of or in connection with the establishment of public parks, gardens, esplanades, recreation grounds, playing fields, children’s playgrounds, open spaces, holiday sites, swimming pools, stadia, aquaria, gymnasia and community centres or for the purpose of or in connection with the maintenance of historical buildings or sites;
(d)
to execute works of such general advantage to the inhabitants of the local authority area;
(e)
to layout and construct any square or open space the property of the local authority by any architectural scheme or ornamentation including the erection of statues, fountains or other structures;
(f)
to establish, erect and maintain public monuments and memorials and to make and receive grants of money towards the establishment or maintenance thereof;
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(g)
to establish, acquire, erect, construct, maintain, assist, promote, control and make or receive grants of money in respect of—
(i)
public libraries, art galleries and museums;
(ii)
botanical and zoological gardens and aquaria;
and
(iii)
plant or flower nurseries and tree banks, within or without the local authority area limits:
Provided that the local authority may decide that the general management, regulation and control of any such institution established or acquired by the local authority shall be vested in and exercised by such person whether or not members of the local authority as the local authority may from time to time appoint for that purpose;
(h)
to sponsor, establish, maintain, control, hire and contribute to bands for musical and theatrical performances in public places and at local authority or public functions and generally to provide public entertainment in such places and at such functions;
(i)
to establish, erect, maintain, supervise and control public baths, bathing-places, washing-places, and drinking-fountains;
(j)
to arrange for the lighting of public places;
(k)
to establish, erect and maintain animal infirmaries;
(l)
subject to the provisions of any law relating to road traffic, to establish, acquire, maintain and carry on within or without the local authority area public transport services;
(m)
(i)
to erect and maintain shops and dwelling houses and flats and to sell, let or otherwise dispose of the same;
(ii)
to convert the use of buildings and to alter, enlarge, repair and improve the same;
(iii)
to make advances of money for the purpose of enabling residents in the local authority area and officers and employees of
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the local authority to acquire or to erect dwelling houses or flats and to recover such advances with interest thereon by installments or otherwise as the local authority may in its discretion arrange, within or without the local authority area;
(n)
to sell, sublease or otherwise dispose of any movable or immovable property of the local authority:
Provided that—
(i)
no sale or other alienation of immovable property shall take place without the consent of the Majlis
Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri; and
(ii)
all moneys received by the local authority from the sale or other alienation of property shall be credited to the Local Authority Fund;
(o)
with the approval of the Minister, to acquire, purchase or sublease any land, or any other property, right or interest within or without the local authority area which may be necessary for the purposes of this Ordinance;
(p)
to provide and maintain either within or without the local authority area housing accommodation, including convalescence or holiday houses, clubs and playing fields for officers and employees of the local authority;
(q)
to provide assistance financially or otherwise to
Councillors, officers, employees and other persons for the pursuit of courses of study or practical training approved by the Minister upon such terms and conditions as the local authority may decide to impose;
(r)
to do all things necessary for or conducive to the public safety, health and convenience;
(s)
to pay any salaries, allowances and gratuities and to make any contributions to any Superannuation or Provident Fund;
(t)
to grant loans to officers and employees for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles, refrigerators, computers, other household appliances, boats or bicycles at such rates and upon such conditions as may be approved by the local authority;
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(u)
to pay to Councillors, officers and employees on duty or for attending meetings, conferences and seminars organized for local government administration such travelling, subsistence and other allowances at such rates as may from time to time be decided by the local authority with the approval of the Minister;
(v)
to pay the medical expenses incurred by any
Councillor, officer or employee at such rates and upon such conditions as may be approved by the local authority;
(w)
to advertise and give publicity to the attractions, amenities and advantages of the local authority area and its environs and to contribute to and receive grants and donations for the purpose of the encouragement of tourism;
(x)
to require the owner or occupier of any premises to do any of the following acts:
(i)
to remove, lower or trim to the satisfaction of the local authority any tree, shrub or hedge overhanging or interfering in any way with the traffic on any road or street or with any wires or works of the local authority or which in the opinion of the local authority is likely to endanger the public safety or convenience and in the event of any tree situated in private premises falling across any public road or street the local authority may remove the fallen tree and the expenses incurred shall be charged on and recoverable from the owner or occupier thereof;
(ii)
to remove any fence or structure abutting upon any public place and if such owner or occupier fails to comply with any such request any authorized officer of the local authority may enter upon the said premises and carry out such work and section 170 shall apply to the expenses incurred thereby;
(y)
to enter into any contract with any other local authority or with any person to secure or further the carrying on without the local authority area of any work or undertaking which the local authority is authorized to carry on;
(z)
to do all things necessary for carrying out all the provisions for and in regard to which the local authority is
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empowered from time to time to make bylaws, standing orders, rules and regulations, and for carrying out all such bylaws, standing orders, rules and regulations into effect;
(A)
to carry out any development, either by itself or with any other local authority or person, for residential, commercial, industrial or any other undertaking which the local authority may determine;
(B)
to incur all expenditure necessary for civic receptions authorized by the local authority or for the carrying out of any purpose of this Ordinance or of any purpose not specifically provided for in this Ordinance which the local authority may determine to be a purpose calculated to facilitate or is conducive to or incidental to the exercise by the local authority of its powers and duties under this Ordinance; and
(C)
with the prior approval of the Majlis Mesyuarat
Kerajaan Negeri, to establish or incorporate a company or to acquire or subscribe to shares or stocks in any company, for the purpose of undertaking or performing or executing any functions or duties or providing any services which a local authority is empowered or authorized or bound to undertake or to provide under this Ordinance or any other written law.
[Ins. Cap. A69.]
SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE WORKS