Kluang residents filling in their particulars at the Mengkibol assemblyman’s service centre to submit their appeals against the hike in assessment rates by the municipal council. - YEE XIANG YUN/The Star
NOW is not the time for five local councils in Johor to increase their assessment tax rates, say some property owners in the affected areas.
They are questioning the timing of the increase, especially given the rising cost of living.
The five councils that have conducted valuation exercises are Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Kluang Municipal Council (MPK), Pengerang Municipal Council (MPP), Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG).
Aside from MBIP, the rest have sent out notices on the increase in assessment rate, with the former expected to do so soon.
Lawyer Balbeer Singh Jessy, 63, who submitted his objection notice to MBJB before the original Oct 22 deadline, said while he understood the need for revaluation, the sum of increase should not burden the people.
“I hope MBJB will try to find a way to accommodate the people’s concerns,” said Balbeer, who is Fresh Breezes Residents Association chairman.
Balbeer wants MBJB to hold town hall session.
He said the assessment in his area had, in some cases, doubled from RM400 to RM800.
He encouraged fellow residents to file their objections to MBJB and urged the city council to have a town hall session as soon as possible to explain to the people and also get residents’ feedback.
Civil servant Mohd Faizal Maidin, 48, hopes the city council can re-evaluate his property as the increase is “too much”.
“My family is living on a 1.6ha piece of land in Jalan Sungai Tiram, Ulu Tiram, that was left behind by my late grandmother; the land is divided between me and five other relatives.
“Previously I only paid RM98 per year to MBJB, but after the new assessment, the tax has jumped to RM1,000 per year.
“The value of the land has gone up from RM400,000 to RM3mil. Not all of us can afford to pay the new tax rate,” he said, adding that the city council had agreed to send in a land surveyor to re-evaluate the property.
Noorman believes new valuation is good for homeowners.
Business owner Noorman Kamsani, 41, said the property assessment conducted by MBJB was a good thing in the long run as it would benefit owners who had plans to sell their properties.
“This valuation is good for houseowners.
“MBJB has also given them the option of choosing their payment method depending on their financial stability; they can choose to pay twice a year or in monthly instalments,” he said.
While MBIP has yet to announce its new valuation list and tax readjustment, residents in Iskandar Puteri are already worried about the quantum of increase.
Tuition teacher Goh Teck Kuan, 52, is anxiously waiting for the notice as he expects to pay significantly more compared to his current rate.
“My house is presently valued at about RM400,000 and my annual tax is about RM180 but once the new rate is issued, I will have to pay a lot more.
“This is not the right time to do this.
“Yes, we know the local council must carry out the process but what we are concerned about is the timing of it all.
“There are already so many things going on right now, we just cannot afford to face this.
Goh is waiting for notice on his new assessment tax figure.
“This will also affect rental prices and cost of goods and services, which will burden everyone,” said Goh.
In Kluang, a low-cost house owner who asked to be known as Lim, hoped the state government could reconsider the valuation exercise, which saw his assessment go up by more than 100% from RM114 previously.
“Starting next year, I have to pay RM239.40 annually to MPK for my property, which is a burden for me as I am a low-income earner,” he said, adding that he might appeal.
Many Kluang residents turned up at the Mengkibol assemblyman’s service centre to fill up forms and submit an appeal against the hike in assessment fees.
Meanwhile, KH Lim, a community leader from Pengerang, said a commercial property owner had complained about having to pay four times more in assessment tax under the new rates.
“There are some commercial property owners operating in industrial areas and their properties are categorised as industrial properties.
“In one case, the owner of a hotel and restaurant building has to pay about RM80,000 in assessment tax following the new valuation, from only RM20,000 previously.
“This is unfair and I urge the council to review the matter.
“They should look into the kind of activities going on at the properties instead of where they are located,” said KH.
In Pasir Gudang, Kampung Tanjung Langsat village chief Khadni Hamzah, 55, hopes the city council will carry out the increase in assessment tax in phases.
“With the current high cost of living, regardless of how low the rate is, it will still be felt by the poor.
“Perhaps MBPG could consider a phased introduction, beginning with industrial areas before moving to housing areas and then traditional villages.”
MBPG had introduced an assessment rate of 0.05% for traditional villages where villagers would be required to pay annual tax of around RM20, Khadni added. — By JOHOR TEAM
