Development charges postponed

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will postpone to next year a new development charge that was supposed to be imposed whenever changes were made to the status of a land or density of a development project.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Md Jais Sarday said the decision to postpone the development charge, which was supposed to be implemented on Sept 1, was made after the state government received feedback from all 16 local councils in Johor.

“Some local councils in Johor were not ready to impose the development charges, as there were issues related to the infrastructure in certain projects under their jurisdiction.

“We have proposed that the implementation be temporarily put on hold until January, as there are requests for the development charge to be implemented after the Local Draft Plan for all districts is completed,” said Jais after conducting a walkabout at the Progressive Johor Expo 2017 in Kota Iskandar here yesterday.

Jais said he would be meeting all the local councils on Thursday next week to further discuss the issue.

In July, Jais announced that development charges of between 10 to 30 per cent would be imposed beginning Sept 1 whenever the status of a land was converted or when a developer increased the number of units or floor plans on any project.

It was previously announced that development charges would range from 30 per cent for land and projects at international zones, to 15 per cent for areas under city councils and municipal councils, and 10 per cent for areas under district

There are requests for the development charge to be implemented after the Local Draft Plan for all districts is completed.

councils.

Jais said the development charges had been previously imposed in Selangor, Perak, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu.