NEW ASSESSMENT: FEEDBACK WITH FACTS PLEASE, NOT EMOTIONS - IPOH MAYOR

IPOH, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The Ipoh City Council (MBI) is appealing to the public to provide helpful and factual feedback regarding the proposed increase in assessment rate which is expected to be implemented by May next year.

Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin @ Md Daud said this is because the proposal is subject to legislation and will only be decided by May next year at the latest.

“That’s why in the current period, we ask residents to respond and give us ideas or options so that we can solve this matter maturely. Not (comment) ranting, cursing and being emotional.

“On the part of MBI itself, this proposal is not made on a whim where we refer to the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) wherein every five years we should make an assessment. For the record, the last time a revision was made was in 1982, which is 42 years ago,” he said.

He said this after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Building Conservation and Commercial Development Project at the Tasek Store Site between MBI and the A2Z Welfare Organisation here today for conservation of a two-storey building for tourism in Tasek Industrial Area.

On Nov 15, Rumaizi asserted in a statement that the decision whether to maintain or lower the new tax rate imposed by MBI depends on the objections made by the people of Ipoh.

He informed that the percentage rate of tax charged in the city of Ipoh which is considered the highest in Peninsular Malaysia which is 16.5 per cent (pct) has been lowered to nine per cent for the residential and business building category.

Yesterday, the ‘Ipoh Tax Objection Movement’ wanted more residents’ associations to voice their objections to the increase in assessment tax.

Its head, Ahmad Humaizi Din Mustafaha said, from the feedback received, the increase in the 9 pct tax rate was not agreed upon by many because it was high and burdensome to property owners.

Meanwhile, Rumaizi said written feedback regarding the issue can be made online at e-mail valuation@mbi.gov.my or physically at the Valuation and Property Department before Nov 22.

He said MBI will also conduct face-to-face engagement sessions with residents around the city until the beginning of next year with the aim of providing enlightenment regarding the tax and that all findings will be presented to the state government for further action.

-- BERNAMA