SEVERAL occupants of a condominium in Damansara Perdana scrambled to pay their outstanding assessment tax when personnel from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) came knocking on their doors.
Several homeowners and tenants at the apartment complex even had items seized from their units during the Saturday (March 11) operation by MBPJ against ratepayers who had failed to pay the tax for more than two years.
During the operation, MBPJ enforcement officers came prepared to confiscate goods from defaulters, carting away electrical items such as large-screen televisions and an air purifier.
The police were also called in when one unit owner refused to cooperate and speak with MBPJ officers.
Two unit owners paid their taxes on the spot totalling RM8,564, while another two units had items confiscated.
The joint operation involving 40 personnel was part of a campaign by city council to get delinquent ratepayers to pay up their assessment arrears, which currently amounts to some RM20mil.
MBPJ assistant accountant (assessment tax division) Zey Iskandar Mohamed Jalil said in Damansara Perdana alone, ratepayers owed the council RM8.2mil in assessment arrears.
“We are carrying out a two-day operation in the area, covering 40 units in five apartments and condominiums
“MBPJ has sent them (defaulters) multiple notices and given ample time to settle their outstanding fees. Now we have to take action,” he said, adding that they expected to collect about 50% of the owed amount.
Zey added that a confiscation action had not been carried out since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The confiscated goods will be auctioned within a week if the owners do not pay their arrears and claim their belongings. Homeowners can also appeal to MBPJ to allow for installment payments if they are unable to pay in a lump sum,” he explained.
He said the enforcement team would seize items that cost more than the arrears, to ensure the money obtained from the auction would be sufficient to cover the outstanding sum.
“We do not want to go to extremes like this (seizure), but we have no choice when people continue to disregard our notices,” he added.
The operation and legal action was carried out under Section 147 and 148 of the Local Government Act 1976.
