Subang residents rattled by proposed 25% hike in assessment tax

A PROPOSED assessment tax hike of 25% for properties in Subang Jaya has been dubbed as “unfair and a shock”, though it is the first adjustment in 32 years.

Subang Jaya residents are rattled and question why the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and its predecessor, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), had failed to conduct gradual raises over the years that would not “burden the people financially”.

It will be the first assessment tax increase since 1992 for Subang Jaya and Bandar Sunway while for USJ, Puchong, Seri Kembangan, and Serdang, the assessment has not been reviewed for 28 years since 1996.

Disturbed by the sudden proposed assessment hike, an ad hoc group of residents has banded together under the People’s Coalition Against Assessment Hike (GPMKC) and handed a two-page memorandum to MBSJ.

On Thursday (Aug 1), about 25 people gathered at the council’s headquarters at Persiaran Perpaduan, USJ5, led by resident CP Goh, 37, who said the proposed tax to take effect in January was unfair and a shock.

“Most of the people who had submitted their objections to MBSJ strongly feel the 25% increase is a financial burden to all, especially pensioners in current economic times,” said Goh.

MBSJ representative Mohd Reyzal Mazlan received the memorandum from Goh while accompanied by the council’s Valuation Department senior assistant director Hasnor Salwa Harun.

Goh added that the Local Government Act 1976 details the need for assessment rates to be reviewed every five years or within a reasonable time frame that the Selangor government decides, but in this case, it was neglected.

“Section 137 of the Local Government Act, states that a new valuation shall be prepared once every five years. Our residents must not be burdened for the council’s neglect,” said Goh.

Another resident, Nancy Lim, 60, added that each objection must be taken seriously as residents have voiced their dissatisfaction due to various economic changes in Greater Klang Valley that are impacting prices of goods.

“The Federal Government has rationalised the diesel subsidy and plans are afoot to rationalise more subsidies.

“We want the politicians voted in to speak for the rakyat as our residents are against this move. Such a raise in assessment taxes would put pressure on people,” she said.

MBSJ’s Corporate and Strategic Management Department deputy director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said the memorandum was received from the coalition and would be given to the council for discussion.

MBSJ had issued notice of the new valuation to ratepayers for each area and objections to the proposed assessment valuation end Friday (Aug 2).

MBSJ had earlier stated that 326,646 new valuation list notices were sent by post to property owners for notification since June 21.

Objections to the new hike had started from June 27. To date, MBSJ had received 7,182 objections.

According to MBSJ, the assessment review is to balance the increasing expenses and management of the city council and help support governance.

The new assessment tax increase is for various categories, namely residential, commercial, industrial, and vacant land (agriculture).

Other local authorities in Selangor have also not increased their assessment rates for more than two or three decades and a similar adjustment exercise is also being carried out.