DBKL cuts assessment rates to pacify city folks

KUALA LUMPUR: Residential and commercial properties  in the city will have their assessment rates slashed to 4% and 10% respectively, following the recent protests against the sharp increase in the valuation of properties.

In making the announcement, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the reduction would be based on the category of the properties.

Low and medium-cost properties would be charged the minimum rate.

Places of worship and offices belonging to non-governmental organisations will be charged between RM1 and RM2 a year.

Incentives would also be given in the form of rebates to homeowners in three categories, namely the disabled, retirees and those who stay in their own homes.

When asked what type of evidence home owners would have to produce to prove they were not renting their homes, Tengku Adnan said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would take the word of residents “in good faith”.

“DBKL’s view is: ‘if you cheat us, you are cheating God’,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

The announcement may soothe about half a million property owners who were up in arms after DBKL announced in September that they could expect a hike of between 100% and 250% in assessments.

Tengku Adnan said while he agreed with DBKL’s rental valuation, he had asked them to ensure that the rates imposed would not burden the people as the government was a “caring” one.

“I will also ensure DBKL improves the quality of their service and build more infrastructure for the well-being of the city folks,” he said.

Tengku Adnan also revealed that as of Tuesday, DBKL had received 153,187 objection letters, which will be scrutinised prior to owners being called up to meet the eight panels, which comprise experts from various fields.


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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 20, 2013.