I strongly condemn the BN state government for refusing to revise the unconscionable increase in the Manjung district of Perak’s annual advertisement fees.

 

In the just concluded state assembly, the Perak government has refused to review the decision of the Manjung District Council to increase annual advertisement fees up to 66 times or 6,600 percent.

 

The Manjung District Council has - on Oct 18, 2013 - approved the Local Government Act 1976 Advertisement (Manjung Municipal Council) By-Laws 2013, and the same was confirmed by the state government on Oct 29, 2013.

The new by-laws took effect recently, replacing the Advertisement (Manjung District Council) By-Laws 1984:

 

  • Under the new 2013 by-laws, the annual fee for 100 sq m unilluminated advertisements will be RM1,070, as compared with RM300 under the 1984 by-laws.

 

  • Under the same by-laws, the annual fee for 100 sq m illuminated advertisements will be RM1,050, as compared with RM600 under the 1984 by-laws. 

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  • The annual fee for a 100 sq m illuminated billboard under the 1984 by-laws was RM600, but will be RM18,000 under the new 2013 by-laws.

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  • The annual fee for a 100 sq m unilluminated billboard under the 1984 by-laws was RM300, but will now be RM20,000 (66 times increase) under the new 2013 by-laws.
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    I urge the many Manjung district councilors who have gone to the media to oppose the increase (on the grounds that they were not aware of it or that they had not been appointed as councilors when the new 2013 by-laws were passed) to walk the talk.

    NGEH KOO HAM is Beruas MP and state assemblyperson for Sitiawan.