DBKL not giving discounts for assessment tax during Covid-19

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has no plans to give a discount for assessment tax during the Covid-19 pandemic, says Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

"However, those who are facing any problems can apply to postpone the payment of the assessment tax or they can pay through instalments until the end of Dec this year," he said in reply to a question from Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) during Question Time.

Fong had asked the Ministry whether it had any intention to provide any discount for assessment tax to help businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Annuar said that a total of RM100mil has been allocated under DBKL and relevant agencies under the Ministry for various assistance programmes, including a six-month rental exemption for public housing owned by DBKL and traders using DBKL premises.

Pressed by Fong to explain why DBKL would not give such a discount, Annuar said there were no such provisions under the Local Government Act 1976 to allow for such a discount.

However, he says the law allows people to apply for an exemption if they are unable to rent out their premises.