KUCHING, Feb 26: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong has urged Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to review the current excessive assessment rates, which range from RM400 to RM540 yearly, imposed on units of an affordable housing scheme, Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront.
Yong noticed that the current assessment rate charged by MBKS on Bintawa Riverfront is more expensive than the assessment rates imposed on other landed terraced houses within the Kuching area like Tabuan Jaya, Tabuan Height, Taman Riverview, Bintawa, and others.
“It is even unthinkable and ridiculous to see that the assessment bill for certain units of Bintawa Riverfront is four times higher than the assessment rates for PR1MA Matang units with similar area size.
“For example, the assessment rates for some units at PRIMA Matang is billed for RM62.80 half yearly whereas for Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront, the assessment bill could go as high as RM270.30 half yearly which is four times or more expensive than PR1MA Matang units,” she raised in a statement today.
Yong pointed out that PR1MA is a housing development project managed by Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia established under the PR1MA Act 2012 to deliver more affordable homes for medium income households in key urban areas.
Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront has a total of 1320 units. Therefore, she said that it could not be categorised or treated as one of the ordinary private development housing projects in Kuching when it comes to calculating or assessing the Annual Rateable Value of the property units by MBKS.
“The assessment rate chargeable on any affordable housing schemes should not be higher or as high as any other housing development projects undertaken by private developers. Therefore, special considerations must be considered in determining the assessment rates payable.
“In my view, the methodology adopted by MBKS in calculating and deciding the assessment rates of Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront is irrational and improper, particularly when MBKS tried to compare Residensi PRIMA Bintawa Riverfront apartments with other similar grade private apartments projects which are equipped with same facilities and assessed within MBKS jurisdiction,” she added.
Another reason for MBKS to take immediate action to review and lower the assessment rates for Residensi PR1MA Bintawa Riverfront, she said, is that the most of the maintenance works including grass cutting, drainage cleaning, public compound cleanliness, street lighting servicing, play ground and green area maintenance within the residential compound are carried out by PR1MA management team and not MBKS.
“If MBKS insists on charging such expensive assessment rates on affordable housing scheme despite knowing the strong objection from the residents whom majority of them are from the middle lower income group, the council has shown it is ignorant, inconsiderate and goes against the aim, motto, of the government in providing affordable housing to the people through PR1MA Housing Schemes,” she said.
Yong emphasised that MBKS should not charge the units’ owners for either maintenance works or services that the council does not render.
“I will formally write to the Ministry of Local Government and MBKS to raise the issues concerned,” she added. — DayakDaily
