By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, July 10 — Rate-paying Selangor residents can still appeal against the new assessment tax rates due to come into force statewide next year, said the state executive councillor for local government Dato’ Ng Suee Lim.
Speaking during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session today, he reiterated that the state government would cap the rate hike at no more than 25 per cent and that appeals filed by residents will be properly heard by their respective local authority’s appeal committees.
"The new assessment tax and valuation rate notices have all been sent out. However, any objections or appeals can be filed by residents to their respective councils and even council members,” Ng said.
[caption id="attachment_363283" align="alignright" width="400"]
State executive councillor for local government Dato' Ng Suee Lim responding to queries during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session at the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam, on July 9, 2024. — Picture by AHMAD ZAKKI JILAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
He was responding to a supplementary question from Hulu Bernam state assemblyman Mu'izzuddeen Mahyuddin on why assessment rate valuations differ from house to house despite having the same floor plan.
Sungai Ramal state assemblyman Mohd Shafie Ngah then asked about the state's plan to improve the local authorities’ services, noting that some members of the public were unhappy with the level of service, which they feel made the new tax rates unjustifiable.
Ng explained that the hike was necessary as some local authorities in Selangor spent between 30 to 50 per cent of their annual budget on waste collection.
"These councils face financial difficulties (in providing better services to the public due to this).
"But I have also ordered local councils to list down five major public projects to be completed within 100 days of the new assessment rates implementation, as well as five projects planned for each year,” he said.
It was previously reported that all 12 local authorities in Selangor had conducted land assessment exercises in preparation for rate hikes to be implemented in 2025.
They have not raised rates for vacant land, housing, factories, and business lots in the state in the past 18 to 39 years.
For example, the Kajang Municipal Council has not raised its rates since 1985, the Kuala Langat Municipal Council since 1987, and the Selayang Municipal Council since 1992.
The Subang Jaya City Council has not reviewed rates for the Subang Jaya and Bandar Sunway areas since 1992 and for the USJ, Puchong, Seri Kembangan, and Serdang areas since 1996.
Similarly, the rates under the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council jurisdictions have been unchanged since 1997, while the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council has not conducted a review since 1996.
The Shah Alam City Council, which governs the state capital, has not increased its assessment tax rate since 2006.
