Guan Eng slams KL assessment rate hike, says no rate hike in Penang next year

KUALA LUMPUR: Using Penang as a benchmark, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng slammed Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) move to arbitrarily raise assessment rates.

"There will be no assessment rate increase in Penang next year," said the DAP secretary-general, while officiating the party's Federal Territory convention and election. 

He said despite having an RM1.4bil operating budget compared to just RM194mil for the Municipal Council of Penang Island (MPPP), the level of service by DBKL was no better. 

Lim said in 2013, operating expenditure according to population was RM294 for each resident by MPPP and RM907 by DBKL. 

"This means, expenditure per capita basis for MPPP was three times lower compared to DBKL," he said.

DBKL had insisted on implementing the increase, the first in 21-years, but have yet to disclose the quantum. 

Lim acknowledged there were 1.55 million residents in KL compared to 660,000 in Penang Island but said this did not justify the staggering assessment rate increase sought by DBKL.

He pointed out that MPPP spent RM1,177 per household compared to RM3,348 by DBKL. 

He added that MPPP spent RM258,977 per km compared to RM5.8mil spent per km by DBKL. 

Lim said the move by DBKL also underscored the need to restore local government elections. 

On June 27, the Federal Court allowed the Penang to petition the Federal Government and Election Commission to hold local government elections in the state.

Lim said Kuala Lumpur residents will be the ultimate beneficiaries if Penang is successful in reinstating local government elections. 

"We are doing this for you," he quipped.