IPOH: Property assessment rates under the Ipoh City Council will be reduced by between 0.25% and 2%.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the state government had on Dec 11 approved the new valuation list whereby the assessment rates for all properties would see a reduction.
He said the list was confirmed in the latest gazette notification by the state government on Dec 26.
"The city council has held a series of engagement sessions with property owners and local residents on Nov 12.
"About 900 people were present to check the new assessment rates," he said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 26).
"Another engagement session was held with state assemblymen and MPs of constituencies within the jurisdiction of the city council was also held on Nov 26.
"Other engagement sessions that had been held included with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Perak branch, Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce, Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Perak Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Malaysian
International Chamber of Commerce and Industry Perak chapter on Dec 18.
"Through these sessions, a resolution was achieved whereby an Arbitration Committee, which included representatives from the city council, associations and city council's valuation and property department, was set up," he added.
The city council recently conducted a property valuation exercise and sent out notices to ratepayers in the city regarding the proposed new assessment rate.
Despite a reduced assessment rate for most properties, the amount residents are required to pay has increased, leading to confusion and frustration.
Rumaizi said the city council would continue holding objection hearings until the middle of March.
"The first phase of the objection hearing was held on Dec 6, involving 80 property holders.
"The second session would be held starting from Jan 7 until the middle of March," he said.
"Findings from these sessions will be considered in setting the assessment rate," he added.
