KUCHING, March 3: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng’s claims that Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront housing scheme assessment rates are rightfully determined because there are units which have been leased out to collect rental, has been described as ‘absurd’.
Special assistant to Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, George Lam said the reason why many people chose to buy the units at Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront is because of the affordable pricing although many conditions and restrictions have been imposed which include the purchased unit cannot either be sold off within the first five-year period or rented out as it only can be used for self-occupation.
“In term of pricing and facilities of Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront which is a government affordable housing scheme, it is incomparable with other private developed apartment projects under the MBKS’s jurisdictions,” he said in a statement today.
Lam urged the mayor to personally meet up with the residents of PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront to better understand their predicament and find possible solutions to the matter.
He said the residents of Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront have to seek help from Democratic Action Party (DAP) so that the matter could once again be brought to the attention of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) as well as MBKS for action.
“It is hoped that, the authorities concerned will give due consideration to the issues raised by reviewing and lowering the excessive assessment rates imposed on Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront.
“It is not too much for the residents to ask for affordable assessment rates to be imposed on their property,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lam questioned the MBKS mayor over the rationality for charging such high assessment rates on PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront units.
“Why was there no special consideration taken into account whilst formulating the assessment rates for affordable housing units? Why did MBKS adopt the same formula that applies to private developed apartments in calculating the assessment rates of Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront?
“Isn’t is more proper for MBKS to place Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront housing scheme into a special category so as to come out with a much lower and reasonable assessment rates?” he questioned.
Lam also expressed his disappointment over response from the MBKS mayor with regards to the assessment rates imposed on Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront units.
“This only goes to show that MBKS does not sympathize with the plight of the residents,” he said.
On Feb 26, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong urged MBKS to review the current assessment rates, which range from RM400 to RM540 yearly, imposed on units of the affordable housing scheme, Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront. — DayakDaily
