Summary

  • Selangor PSM treasurer Darren Ong renews call for local council elections after state announces assessment rate hike.

  • Ong says polls will enhance transparency on local government spending.

  • He proposes taxing the rich instead of raising rates wholesale.

A Selangor PSM leader has made three demands to the state government following an announcement of a 25 percent increase in assessment rate effective Jan 1.

Selangor PSM treasurer Darren Ong said the party shared taxpayers’ scepticism on whether the reported increased revenue of up to RM355 million will be spent prudently and responsibly.

“One big reason for this scepticism is that funds from this tax hike will be administered by the unelected local councils,” he said in a statement today.

Ong (above) was responding to Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee chairperson Ng Suee Lim’s announcement on the tax hike on Dec 9.

Ng reportedly said 12 local councils will implement the new rates.

Avoid power abuse, transparency needed

Ong argued that the Madani government’s failure to reinstate the local council election would see “buddies of political party chiefs appointed by Pakatan Harapan and BN” administering more funds without the consultation of Selangor taxpayers.

Therefore, he demanded the return of the local government election, followed by more transparency on what projects the funds would be spent on.

“In particular, (to ensure) that the projects will be awarded based on an open tender basis, not just handed to cronies of political party leader,” he stressed.

Aim for the wealthy

Ong said PSM also wants the state government to raise taxes on the wealthy, rather than burdening the ordinary people through broad tax hikes.

“We acknowledge there are some exemptions to the assessment tax for the very poorest.

“Nevertheless, this rate hike will still burden many Selangorean families struggling to get by.

“Selangor has a serious inequality problem, and many ultra-wealthy residents so the state government should be targeting the rich, rather than raising taxes on the poor and middle class,” he added.

Ng previously said that out of 12 Selangor local councils, the existing valuation list for Sabak Bernam District Council still uses the 1986 rate, followed by Kuala Langat Municipal Council (1987 rate), and the rest unchanged for the past two decades.

This is despite a mandated review, as outlined in the Local Government Act 1976, which requires all local councils to prepare and issue a new evaluation list every five years.

Ng also cited exemptions for low-cost houses and traditional houses numbering close to 10,000 units.

S'gor exco defends rate hike, says some places didn't review for decades

S'gor exco defends rate hike, says some places didn't review for decades

S'gor to raise assessment tax by 25pct from January

S'gor to raise assessment tax by 25pct from January