Accept reality and view higher assessment rates positively, Minister tells KL folks

The proposal to raise the assessment rates in the federal capital is aimed at providing better services to meet the aspirations of its residents, said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (pic).

He said the proposal should be viewed positively by all parties especially Kuala Lumpur residents as the government could not bear all costs, more so with the rise in property prices and higher cost of living.

Abdul Rahman said the responsibility of developing Kuala Lumpur as a sustainable city was also in the hands of the people and the proposal to increase the assessment rate was an investment for their benefit.

"We need to understand the financial challenges in managing towns to meet the people's demand for better services and all these need money.

"The effort to turn Kuala Lumpur into a sustainable city involves not only the government but also the people, especially Kuala Lumpur residents," he said.

He told reporters this after opening the Challenges of Extended Mega Urban Regions: The Changing Face of South East Asia & the World" conference, in Putrajaya, yesterday.

Abdul Rahman said he wanted the city folks to accept the reality that the rates have not been raised for 21 years.

"Malaysians must understand that the government cannot give all services in the form of subsidy or free. Costs have increased several fold.

"No government will raise taxes merely to hurt the people," he said.

Meanwhile, City Hall (DBKL) will be holding a meeting with all 11 MPs in the Federal Territory today to clear the air over the proposal to raise assessment rates from next year.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Thalib said DBKL hoped the MPs would convey to residents in their respective areas on the assessment rate hike.

"The assessment rate increase next year is inevitable as DBKL can no longer absorb the rising cost of maintenance and management each year.

"The move will also enable DBKL not to be too dependent on federal government funding," he said.

Ahmad Phesal said the new rates will be determined after taking into consideration the interests of residents and the current economic situation. - Bernama