PUTRAJAYA: The government’s decision to give a 30 per cent discount in assessment tax for houses in Putrajaya costing below RM300,000 beginning next year clearly proves its concern for the problems faced by civil servants.
Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Adnan Mat said this was because most of the homeowners who were affected by the decision were civil servants.
"Cuepacs greatly appreciates the efforts of the Prime Minister, who is not only concerned but also provided immediate solutions to the problems raised, especially involving issues close to the hearts of civil servants and the people.
"We have full confidence in the Prime Minister to see and solve the problems of civil servants and the people, especially in the issue of affordable housing for civil servants,” he said in a statement Friday (Dec 23).
The tax cut would take effect from Jan 1, 2023, until a reassessment was done by Putrajaya Corporation.
Meanwhile, Adnan said the Congress also proposed the government carry out a review of all affordable housing projects for civil servants since there are many idle government-owned lands in Putrajaya and the rest of the country.
He said Cuepacs is of the view that the implementation of special housing projects for civil servants should be reinstated, and Putrajaya can be the first location for the restart of such projects.
"We are not asking for free housing because we are willing to buy, but the prices that the developers are currently offering do not make sense with the current salary rates of civil servants.
"Imagine the prices of houses in Putrajaya that start at around RM400,000 and above, how can civil servants who are mostly B40 and M40 afford it?” he said.
In May 2019, the government announced that there would be no more special housing for civil servants in the implementation of the new National Affordable Housing Policy and the National Housing Standard, to ensure the sustainability of relationships in a community. - Bernama
