SEREMBAN: Residential assessment rates in Negri Sembilan will not be increased for the next five years, says Datuk Ismail Lasim.
Chairing his first exco meeting as Mentri Besar, Ismail said this was one of the pledges made by the Barisan Nasional in its manifesto for the Aug 1 state polls.
"The exco at its inaugural meeting today has agreed not to increase the assessment rate for residential properties for the next five years.
"I have been made to understand that the authorities were already carrying out a study to increase the rate, which was to take effect either next January or July.
"With this decision, there will be no increase," he said at Wisma Negri on Monday (Aug 10).
Separately, Ismail said a special session of the state legislative assembly will be held next Tuesday (Aug 18) for the swearing-in of all state assemblymen.
He said the state assembly Speaker and deputy Speaker will also be appointed during the special sitting.
"The Speaker will be someone from the outside, meaning not an assemblyman, while his deputy has to be an assemblyman," he said.
To another question, Ismail said the state exco had yet to discuss if the opposition assemblymen would be given the same allocation as government backbenchers.
"We have yet to discuss that," he added.
Ismail, when asked if a decision has been made on the candidate who would look into the affairs of the Indian community in his administration, said a decision should be made next week.
Last week, Ismail had said that his administration will appoint an individual with an executive councillor status for the purpose.
This, he said, was because there was no Indian candidate from Barisan Nasional who won in the Aug 1 state polls.
In the state polls, Barisan won 18 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (11) and Perikatan Nasional (seven).
