SHAH ALAM, 20 Dec: The increase in assessment tax imposed by Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, especially for factory owners, is among the lowest of all Local Authorities (PBT) in Selangor.
Shah Alam Mayor Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan said that for example, the rate of assessment for Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is 8.8 percent, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) is between 9.35 to 11 percent and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) is 10.8 percent.
He said that the assessment rate in Kampung Sungai Buloh which was previously calculated according to agricultural categories, which was between one to two percent, and after recalculating was done according to industrial categories, it is from 7 to 7.5 percent.
“The revision of this value is based on several things among them is the change in land status, from agricultural land (zero) to industrial land, vacant land with erected buildings.
“For Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, revision was carried out in 2012 and it was found that many new buildings have been built. There have also been changes regarding the usages of the buildings as well as residences being converted to factories,” he said at a press conference at Wisma MBSA today.
Previously, Selangor BN Coordinator, Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed claimed that there will be an increase in assessment tax of up to 10 times in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh and Kampung Baru Subang as well as other areas next year.
Mohd Jaafar said that many factories around areas in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh are large factories and the taxes imposed are still reasonable if calculation is made based on the output produced by factories in the area.
“Most of the products from factories in these areas are being exported and they are producing high quality products however, the assessment tax imposed is still low,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Government has formed a State level Protest Hearing Committee which will be chaired by the New Village Development and Illegal Factory Solutions Exco, Ean Yong Hian Wah and will also comprise of a number of representatives from the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), the Selangor State Deputy Secretary (Development) as well as representatives from the State Treasury Office.
In the meantime, the State Government and MBSA will be having dialogue sessions twice during this year to explain to the people in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh regarding this tax increase.
MBSA has also opened information counters since November 20, every Tuesday and Wednesday, until this December to help landowners obtain information regarding planning permission applications, land premium payment applications and other related issues.
“These information counters will also be accompanied by outside agencies such as the Land and District Office, Selangor Land and Mines Office as well as the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage,” he added.