The 11 Federal Territories parliamentarians meeting the Federal Territories Minister on the hike in assessment rates today were made to sign an Official Secrets Act (OSA) declaration.

Tengku Adnan briefing MPs on assessment hike Amid mounting public protest against the exorbitant hike, the minister Tengku Adnan Mansor was scheduled to explain the move to the MPs albeit behind closed doors.

Reporters were only allowed to photograph the arriving MPs and Tengku Adnan, as they walked into the meet at DBKL's headquarters.

However Batu MP Tian Chua tweeted from within the meeting room a while later that some MPs have refused to sign the pledge.

"DBKL officers distributed to us an OSA pledge when the meeting started. Members of parliament felt quite offended and refused to sign," reads his tweet, although he did not elaborate on how many MPs refused.

Yesterday, Parliament turned down a motion to debate the controversial DBKL property assessment increase , the first in 21 years and as high as 260 percent for some areas.

NONE Besides Tian Chua, the other Pakatan MPs spotted at the meeting Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai. The BN MP for Titiwangsa Johari Abdul Ghani was also present.

The meeting lasted well over an hour, during which Tian Chua and Lim tweeted updates from inside, after refusing to sign the OSA declaration on grounds it went against the spirit of the opposition’s fight for a more transparent government.

Pakatan-ruled states Selangor and Penang have both passed a Freedom of Information Act, which opens up state documents that are not blocked by the OSA, for scrutiny.

During the meeting , the MPs conveyed the grief of KLites over the unexpected assessment rate increase and at the same time, heard Tengku Adnan and KL Mayor Ahmad Phesal explain why the move was “gazetted”, “timely” and “necessary”.

“The KL mayor argues that assessments hike is timely due to City Hall’s high expenses. For example, City Hall pays RM14 million monthly to Alam Flora,” Lim Lip Eng tweeted.

DBKL asked to consider suspension for six months

Tian Chua, who met reporters immediately after the meeting, said Pakatan had asked DBKL to consider suspending the assessment rates for at least six month, pending a review and so as not burden the people further.

NONE In reply, Tengku Adnan ( left in photo ) did not agreed to do anything except to make a fresh decision  on Dec 17.

Tian Chua revealed that Tengku Adnan said he would weigh giving a discount on the assessment rate, which now stands at six to 12 percent, but it was not a promise.

DBKL insisted that people could still send in their complaint forms, but the MPs protested that this was unproductive appeared to have been ignored.

At a press conference after the meeting, Tengku Adnan said that DBKL welcomed complaints and feedbacks.

“Why should the staff of DBKL answer the hotline every day, just from people who are angry and just want to ask and currently, whatever the answer, it’s not going to solve the problem,” Tian Chua said.