Despite few objections, assessment hike to be relooked

JOHOR BARU: Despite receiving only a small number of official objections from property owners over the new assessment tax, the state government will still reconsider and examine the matter further, says an exco member.

“The objection period under the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Pengerang Municipal Council (MPP) and the Kluang Municipal Council (MPK) has ended,” said state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.

“Of the 459,135 property owners, only 1.2% or about 5,500 have officially filed an objection to the new property valuation and tax readjustment.

“However, the state government will still reassess the matter as we understand that the people are facing financial challenges now.

“Once all the necessary procedures have been completed, the state government will look into it again to ensure it does not burden the people,” he told The Star.

He said the last time local councils in Johor – with the exception of the Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) – conducted a property valuation and tax readjustment was in 2013.

“Some 38% or about 170,000 property owners under the three local councils are either seeing the same assessment tax as in previous years or even lower.

“This is because despite the higher property value under the new valuation list, the lower rate was imposed. They will end up paying the same amount or even lower compared with before.

“Not all objections filed were due to a hike in the assessment tax.

“There are also owners who filed the objection as the value of their property has gone down following the new valuation exercise,” he added.

Mohd Jafni said the remaining 253,239 property owners in the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and 98,421 in the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) will have until Nov 15 to file their objections.

A resident, who only wanted to be known as Heng, said he has created an online petition in hopes that MBJB and the state government would study the matter again.

“Just because the number of people officially objecting to MBJB is low, it does not mean that people agree with the tax readjustment.”

Businessman Ilamaran Ramamoorthy, 49, said he is looking forward to the state government’s decision.

Five local councils in Johor are revising their assessment rates, which takes effect on Jan 1 next year.