KL RESIDENTS protest assessment hike outside City Hall, demand Mayor's RESIGNATION

KUALA LUMPUR — Hundreds of property owners braved the morning traffic to congregate outside the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters to protest against a controversial hike in assessment rates.

They were joined by their Members of Parliament for the various constituencies within the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

Conspicuously absent was the MP for Putrajaya Tengku Adnan, the Umno minister responsible for mooting the hike. Adnan is the current Minister in Charge of the Federal Territories.

"Tomorrow is the last day for submitting objection letters against the assessment hike to City Hall. Just this morning alone, we handed over more than 20,000 letters - just imagine how furious the people are," Opposition MP for Batu Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Yes, I know the general election is over and there seems to be a rush by Prime Minister Najib Razak to jack up the prices of everything from petrol to electricity to toll. It is obvious his government is trying to ram these through as soon as possible so that the people will forget all these by the time the next general election comes along. This is extremely unscrupulous and we will give our full support to the people in their fight against such injustice."

Political revenge

The protesters also demanded the resignation of Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib, whom many accused of "taking revenge" for the failure of his mentor Raja Nong Chik, the former FT Minister, to snatch the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat from the Opposition.

“The assessment rate hike for KL properties is not fair and cannot be accepted,” said Opposition MP for Cheras Tan Kok Wai.

“Local elections must be held so that the mayor will be elected by the people. Only then will the mayor and DBKL understand our suffering."

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Malaysia Chronicle