New assessment rates from Jan 1

Penangites will have to pay more in assessment next year.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) would impose an increase of between 0.5% and 4.45% based on the type of properties.

“We have not increased the rates for the last 10 years since 2005.

Many local councils in the country have revised their Valuation Lists and imposed higher assessment rates this year.

“We have been receiving requests for an increase since 2009. We approved a marginal increase only after a lengthy discussion with the two councils because we do not want to burden the ratepayers,” he said during a press conference in Komtar yesterday.

He said the state, however, had rejected the request by the two local councils for a review of the Valuation List pursuant to Section 137(3) of the Local Government Act 1976.

He added that the new increase would bring in additional revenue which was necessary to meet higher operational costs, provide better services to the people and improve basic amenities in the state.

MPSP president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the new rates would help boost their income by RM20.49mil next year.

“Currently our income from assessment rates is RM137.7mil,” she said.

Maimunah said the rates for kampung houses and properties owned by societies or associations would remain the same.

“For low-cost flats and houses under the Kilat scheme, the rate will be 0.5% more.

“For landed properties, flats (excluding low-cost flats) and development lands, the hike is 1% while commercial, light industry and agro-based industry properties will cost 1.25% more.

“The three golf courses on the mainland will have to pay 4.35% more,” she said.

MPPP secretary Ang Aing Thye said that there would be no hike in the assessment rates for properties owned by societies, associations and kongsi.

“The rate for the low and low medium-cost flats will see a hike of 0.5% from the current 7% to 7.5%.

This means that 83% of the owners will pay less than RM10 more from next year. For landed properties, apartments and condominiums, and development land in both districts on the island, the increment is 1%, while the assessment rates for commercial, industrial and hotels will increase by 1.25%.

“The rate for the golf course and turf club will increase by 4.45%,” he said.

He said MPPP expected an increase of revenue from RM160.438mil to RM180.9mil.

On an unrelated issue, Chow said that he would issue a directive to MPPP and MPSP today to take strict enforcement against cars parked illegally.

A report was lodged on MPPP Watch’s Facebook page that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s official car, PG1 was spotted parked on the bicycle lane in front of the Hin Bus Depot in Jalan Gurdwara. - By The Star