Selve: Senior citizens might struggle to pay the higher assessment fee.
THE move to increase assessment rates by 25% across Selangor next year has drawn criticism from ratepayers, who say it is untimely and unjustified based on the service quality of local councils.
State local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim had announced on Monday that the hike would take effect across all 12 councils from Jan 1, 2025.
He said the increase was postponed since 2019, in view of the economic situation then.
According to reports, local councils in Selangor have been using decades-old rates, some dating back as far as 30 years.
Paramjeet: Local authorities should optimise costs and cut down wastage of public funds.
Subang Jaya resident Paramjeet Singh, however, said local councils could have explored other options to improve their fiscal health such as by optimising costs and cutting down wastage of public funds.
He cited repairs of public facilities throughout Selangor as examples, many of which he said were unsatisfactory.
“A proper framework for inspection and well-defined key performance indicators are key to ensuring quality and reducing wastage,” he added.
Ng: The new assessment rates will come into force on Jan 1, 2025.
Selve Sugumaran from Petaling Jaya said the city was home to a growing number of senior citizens, most of whom were no longer earning an income.
“The 25% rise is a huge jump, so they may struggle to pay the higher assessment,” he said.
Klang resident Fong Tang Chong said the 25% increase was unfair to owners of newer properties.
“Although the revised rates are acceptable for older properties, newer ones should enjoy a pro-rated figure,” he said.
He added that several of Klang residents associations had, in August, sent their complaints to Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s office on the issue.
Puchong resident Datuk Andrew Tiong said the new assessment rates were being implemented during a difficult time.
Fong: 25% increase is unfair to owners of newer properties.
He said many households were cautious of further decline in their disposable income amid talks of reduced fuel subsidy next year.
“A modest increase, say around 10% would have been fair and should be accompanied by better services,” he added.
The state government had, in June, announced plans allowing local councils to increase assessment rates, subject to a 25% cap.
Ratepayers were allowed to submit objections, which were reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the local councils.
Ng said some 287,000 objections were received throughout Selangor, of which 230,000 were validated.
However, low-cost housing schemes, including SelangorKu homes, would continue to enjoy exemptions from assessment tax, according to a Bernama report.
“As of this year, 2,849 properties have been exempted. We aim to expand this to 5,000 properties,” Ng was quoted as saying.
At an event yesterday, Subang Jaya deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali promised to improve service quality.
He highlighted better waste collection, repairing faulty streetlights and upgrading drains as among key issues in the city.
“There is also an allocation next year to distribute 120-litre rubbish bins to 60,000 properties throughout Subang Jaya,” he said.
Mohd Zulkurnain said that only some 10,000 out of 326,000 property owners submitted their objections to Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ).
“Of these, only 4,000 came for the hearing sessions. Old age, retirement and requests for discounts are among reasons for the objections,” he said.
On a related matter, Mohd Zulkurnain said MBSJ was expecting to collect RM268.3mil in assessment revenue next year.
The city council collected RM221.6mil this year, he said.
Source: The Star
2024-12-12T16:00:00Z