SEREMBAN: There will be no increase in residential assessment rates in Negri Sembilan for the next five years, says Datuk Ismail Lasim.
Chairing his first exco meeting as Mentri Besar yesterday, Ismail said this was one of the pledges made by the Barisan Nasional in its manifesto for the Aug 1 state polls.
“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.
Separately, Ismail said a special session of the State Legislative Assembly will be held on 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 an outsider, meaning not an assemblyman, while his deputy has to be an assemblyman.”
To another question, Ismail said the state exco had yet to decide if the assemblymen from the Opposition would be given the same allocation as government backbenchers.
“We have yet to discuss that,” he added.
On whether a decision has been made on the candidate who will oversee the affairs of the Indian community in his administration, Ismail said a decision would be made next week.
Last week, he stated that his administration would appoint an individual with executive councillor status for this purpose, as there was no Indian candidate from Barisan Nasional who won in the recent state polls, in which Barisan secured 18 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (11) and Perikatan Nasional (seven).
