Ku Nan calls opposition demo-crazy and confused over DBKL assessment hike

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (pic) has accused the opposition as being “demo-crazy” over its planned demonstration over the assessment rate fiasco.

"That's the problem with them. They are all demo-crazy. They like to politicise and sensationalise... this type of politics is bad," he said today, referring to the opposition.

"I already said I am sorry. You cannot blame the mayor. I should have checked, I am well-versed in this and I should have guided them, and I did not do it.

"That's why I said I am sorry," he said, defending Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib.

The city’s opposition MPs are planning a demonstration on December 16 in front of the City Hall headquarters in Kuala Lumpur over the hike in assessment rates.

The PKR vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar had also called on Tengku Adnan and Ahmad Phesal to quit over the assessment rate fiasco.

Tengku Adnan, in a press conference in Putrajaya, told reporters that Pakatan Rakyat has been his only problem since the assessment rate hike issue became a media frenzy.

"I'm sorry to say, but they are confused and they like to confuse people. They don't work and they just talk, and talk, and talk, and lie," he said.

"I agree our approach was quite harsh, the announcement went out in the form of a letter and not a notice and the communication was badly handled. But I have already said sorry to the city folk."

Tengku Adnan said, however, that he has yet to fix the assessment rate, saying it will be set after the March dateline for property owners to vent out their dissatisfaction and reasons behind the disagreement.

"We will still issue a notice in January on the re-evaluation exercise but only after March next year will the rates be notified."

"You must understand that the re-evaluation is being done based on rental value of the property. If it is done based on the building value, it's even worse, right?"

Tengku Adnan said he has also tried talking to opposition leaders in Kuala Lumpur.

"If you want the city to be progressive, we need money to provide amenities... I can't be asking for money from the Federal Government all the time," he said.

Tengku Adnan told reporters that City Hall will soon hold a public hearing on objections over the assessment rate hike soon before a final decision is reached in March.

"There will be a panel comprising both government and private sector valuers during the hearing.

"But even some private sector valuers have told me to go ahead with the plan," he added.