MB: Yong Peng situation an isolated case

‘We will look into hike in assessment rates’

MUAR: The much talked about massive hike in the assessment rate is only confined to areas under Yong Peng Municipal Council and not in other local councils in Johor, said Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Generally, he said the hike in assessment rates in other local councils was reasonable and acceptable by most taxpayers.

The Yong Peng situation was an isolated case which did not reflect the overall revised assessment rate on property values imposed by other local councils, he said.

“Nevertheless, we will look into this. We will direct the authorities to solve the problem faced by residents in Yong Peng,” he told reporters at the launch of the transformation project of Muar Royal Town Bandar Maharani and the unveiling of the Muar Municipal Council new headquarters yesterday.

MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong had highlighted the concerns of Johor residents, mostly from Yong Peng, who complained about a steep increase in the assessment rate, some by even 7,500%.

In some cases, Dr Wee said the rates jumped up from RM12 to RM800.

However, Mohamed Khaled said the massive hike in the assessment rate of residential and commercial properties in Yong Peng came about as its municipal council took into account the property

We will look into this. We will direct the authorities to solve the problem faced by residents in Yong Peng.

— DATUK MOHAMED KHALED NORDIN

value over the past 10 years.

Most taxpayers were quite satisfied with the evaluation of their properties under the new assessment rate as it reflected the real market value of their properties over the year, he added.

He said it was only logical to raise the value of their properties and the move would benefit the owners as they could gain from selling their properties based on market value.

“For instance, a single-storey terrace house bought 20 years ago in Johor Baru for RM100,000 had seen its value go up to RM250,000. There will be good returns if he plans to sell it,” he said.

Although the value of properties had gone up under the revision of the assessment rate by the local councils, he said the average quit rent had increased marginally and did not burden taxpayers.