Perplexed ratepayers throng City Hall for explanation

Ratepayers have been thronging the City Hall office to submit their objections and also to seek clarification on the new assessment rates. - The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, December 3, 2013.Despite the various explanations given by the federal and local government officials on the revised assessment rates for properties in Kuala Lumpur, property owners appear to be still confused over the issue.

Many ratepayers have gone to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) headquarters to submit their objections to the new rates and to seek clarification on the letters they had received.

A visit to the headquarters today found many people, including the old, seeking assistance from enforcement officers who patiently tried to answer their questions and when more clarification was sought, suggested they to go to Maju Complex in the city where the valuer's office is located to get more information.

City Hall valuators reportedly handled between 200 and 300 queries a day from property owners. An enforcement officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said despite the explanations given, the amounts stated in the letters were of concern to the public.

"Especially to old people who do not understand the complexities explained in the text. This is the problem," he said.

A quick poll among those who came to drop their objection letters revealed that many of them were indeed confused over the matter.

"I tried to digest what was stated in the valuation notice and I cannot understand it at all... I guess I too must drop my objection into the box," a City Hall employee said after trying to seek clarification.

"My increase is 10-fold! Of course I will be scared. I don't earn much," he added.