PKR’s Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has urged the Selangor government to revise the business licence fees charged by local councils, which have shot up by 400 percent in several areas.

Nik Nazmi also asked the state government to look into the suggestion of increasing quit rent in the state.

Among the councils involved in the fee revision are the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), which implemented it through the Local Government Act 1976.

“The state government must take into account the cost increases faced by small- and medium-scale businesses as well as workers, the middle class and farmers who are facing the prospect of the goods and services tax (GST), toll increases and also electricity tariff increase,” he said in a statement today.

“So I urge the state government to revise the policy and ensure that any policy change takes into account public interest,” said Nik Nazmi, who is also deputy speaker of the Selangor state assembly.

“Even though the business licence fee increase by MPSJ has been approved since the time of the BN leadership in the state, the rate of increase is still drastic for small and medium businesses,” he added.