Hiew (left) discussing the assessment rates revision issue with Gunsalam.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) must explain in a better way to the people the need to revise the assessment rates in the district which was proposed to begin next year.
Karamunting assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin said there was a lack of communication between the local authority and the public over this matter which has led to misunderstandings.
Due to this misinformation, he said, taxpayers could only see there would be a hike in assessment rates but did not understand the rates actually depended on the property value in each area.
This has been exacerbated by some quarters only touching on the hike but not about the revision of property value, he added.
“The SMC must clarify the actual situation to the people, the property value in Sandakan has never been revised since 1994,” he said, in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 17).
“The council can no longer impose assessment taxes based on rates fixed 29 years ago if the people wanted the local authority to function properly and efficiently.”
Hiew said this after an engagement session over the proposal to raise the rates with SMC officials and Deputy Chief Minister II cum Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam on Tuesday (Oct 17).
The plan to review the assessment rates has been a contentious decision by the SMC, with politicians as well as community leaders urging the local authority to reconsider the decision.
Hiew noted that not all affected would need to pay higher rates.
For example, he said, places like Bandar Ramai-Ramai as well as residential houses near Sandakan town would see a reduction in their assessment rates if the newly revised rates were imposed next year.
Hiew added that the SMC had also allowed people who felt that the evaluation of their property value was unreasonable to submit formal objections.
“The SMC has received about 100 objections so far, and the council will set nine days, beginning next week, to conduct a meeting with those who submitted the letters to discuss and study their cases further,” he said.
During the meeting, Hiew also proposed that the MPS provide leniency to those facing a drastic hike in their assessment rates, saying that the SMC should allow these residents, especially commercial property owners, to pay in instalments.
“The government understands that the people are shocked by this development as a lot of businesses are still recovering from the pandemic.
“However, the SMC would ensure that the raise in assessment rate, if any, would be within a reasonable range,” he added.
He said the SMC should conduct a town hall session with the local residents as well as consumer and business associations in Sandakan to explain the revision of property value.
“They must be transparent. Tell the people why a revision in assessment rates is necessary, how much will be collected and explain in detail how this revenue is going to be spent,” he said.
