IPOH: The proposed property assessment tax rate at 9% for Ipoh ratepayers is expected to see a slight reduction, says mayor Datuk Rumaizi Bahrain.
He said the lower percentage for assessment tax would be announced before the end of December or in January 2025.
"Based on our meeting just now, I think we shouldn't review the previously passed assessment rate as we only received 18,000 objections out of 319,000 property owners. It is equivalent to 6% who objected. It's very low as 94% of property owners did not object.
"Despite 6% objecting, we took it into consideration and will reduce a little from the previously proposed rate," he said after the Ipoh City Council's (MBI) monthly full board meeting today (Nov 28).
"We will make an announcement by this Dec 31 or end of January next year," he added.
Rumaizi had previously said that the percentage rate of property tax charged in Ipoh which is considered the highest in Peninsular Malaysia at 16.5% would be lowered to 9% for the residential and business building category.
On Nov 24, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said that property assessment tax must prioritise the public’s welfare as it could burden ratepayers.
On Nov 22, the media reported objections from Ipoh residents against the new property tax rate of 9%, set to be implemented by MBI.
On a separate matter, Rumaizi said that there would be an engagement session soon with the traders at Dataran MBI.
He said the session would include discussions on the operation of the businesses there and also relocation to another site.
"There are approximately seven to eight traders over there. No trading licences were issued, " he said.
It is learnt that the traders selling their products along Dataran MBI had taken up parking spots and also made it difficult for motorists using that road.
