Objections to Assessment Tax Should Be Rational and Well-Grounded, Says Ipoh Mayor
By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Ipoh Mayor Dato’ Rumaizi Bahrin has urged property owners to ensure that any objections to the reassessment of assessment tax are made rationally, based on legal and economic considerations, rather than emotions alone.
“We want these discussions to be conducted maturely and rationally, reflecting Ipoh’s status as a progressive city,” he said.
He also revealed that the final decision regarding the reassessment is expected to be announced by May 2025, depending on the engagement process with stakeholders.
“This reassessment is a standard practice in developed countries. The proposals and data collected not only comply with legal requirements but also aim to ensure the city’s economy continues to grow sustainably,” he added.
According to Dato’ Rumaizi, the reassessment is being conducted to ensure that property values better reflect current market conditions. The move is essential to balance the city’s economic needs with the interests of its residents.
“This approach is not intended to burden the people. For instance, residential tax rates have been reduced from 16.5 per cent to just 9 per cent under the new Valuation List,” he explained.
He encouraged the public to submit constructive suggestions or objections during the engagement period, which runs until November 22, 2024.
“All feedback will contribute to refining this process and ensuring it meets the needs of all parties involved,” he said.
Elaborating further, he clarified that the reassessment of the assessment tax proposed by the Ipoh City Council (MBI) is not a tax increase but a reevaluation, with the last exercise conducted in 1982.
“The new valuation aligns with the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171), which mandates that assessments should be conducted every five years.
“The last valuation was done 42 years ago. This reassessment is based on current property rental values, and naturally, there has been some increase,” he said.
Previously, Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic reported that the announcement of the new Valuation List by MBI had sparked mixed reactions among netizens.
