SEVERAL tenants operating businesses at the Ampang Waterfront commercial area in Ampang Jaya bore the brunt of their landlords’ negligence in paying their outstanding assessment tax when personnel from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) came to seize assets.
Tenants of eight of the premises inspected by MPAJ claimed that they were unaware of the unpaid assessment tax, which were in arrears totalling RM105,000.
Six unit owners and tenants paid the owed taxes on the spot totalling RM33,456, while one business owner had items confiscated during the Friday (March 24) operation by MPAJ against ratepayers who had failed to pay the tax for more than two years.
A vehicle repair shop had 30 new motorcycle tyres confiscated after the owner failed to pay almost RM10,000 in outstanding taxes.
"Although the onus is on premises owners to pay their tax, tenants can end up bearing the responsibility as action is taken against the premises.
"If defaulters still do not pay, we can take legal action to eventually seize the premises," an MPAJ spokesman said, adding that multiple notices had been issued to premises owners prior to the operation.
He added that the confiscated goods would be auctioned within a week if the owners do not pay their arrears and claim their belongings.
The spokesman said that defaulters owed some RM69mil in unpaid assessment tax, with RM66mil from residential account holders.
Account holders can also appeal to MPAJ to allow for instalment payments if they are unable to pay in a lump sum.
"We will continue to carry out the operation against residential and commercial units for the next several months, before the second term assessment payment."
