A commercial-use chiller was among the items seized from the Pandamaran restaurant owner.
PAY your assessment tax or have your furniture and appliances seized.
The owner of a restaurant in Pandamaran, Klang, found this out the hard way in an operation by Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to collect assessment arrears.
The local council’s enforcement officers seized a chest freezer, a drinks chiller and food warmer station from the restaurant for the outstanding sum owed.
MPK Legal Department deputy director Muhammad Azlan Abdul Malek, who led the operation, said the owner had not paid RM21,760 in assessment tax, accumulated over eight years, despite multiple reminders.
“Our council’s Finance Department had issued several reminders since 2015.
“In 2018, the restaurateur came forward with a plan to make good the arrears through monthly payments but they were never made,” said Azlan.
He said the annual assessment tax for the restaurant was RM2,250.
He disclosed that MPK issued a final red notice in June but the owner failed to pay.
“We were left with no choice but to seize the moveable items.
“The owner can claim the items after settling the total amount, but it must be done within seven days.
“If not, the items will be auctioned off,” Azlan added.
The operation was carried out under Section 148 of the Local Government Act 1976 and involved 15 personnel including MPK’s Finance Department deputy director Mohd Fairus Ali and Enforcement Department senior enforcement assistant Haslinda Abdul Rahman.
Azlan said there were 46,994 assessment tax defaulters in the municipality as of June.
“In the first half of 2023, we sent out 1,093 red notices to errant ratepayers and so far, we have collected a total of RM654,563.”
He said the seizure of moveable items like electronic goods and furniture was the last resort after several other steps.
“First, we will issue two notices as reminders to settle payment before the stated deadline.
“After a week, a red notice will be issued by hand.”
He said MPK would seize items that cost more than the arrears, to ensure the amount 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 disregard our notices,” said Azlan.
