Increase in rates come under fire
The Star Penang, 21/4/2005

Reporters ANTHONY TAN, DERRICK VINESH, NG SU-ANN and SYLVIA LOOI at the Penang State Assembly yesterday

THE Seberang Prai Municipal Council came under fire at the State Assembly for increasing assessment rates without being prudent in its expenditure.

Opposition leader Phee Boon Poh (DAP – Sungai Puyu) asked why the council had paid a private developer RM13.5mil for a 4ha plot of land in Bandar Perda, Central Seberang Prai.

“The council bought the land from the Bandar Perda developer at the cost of RM31 per sq feet (0.09 sq metre) to build its new headquarters.

“But has it forgotten that the state government had already allocated a 14ha plot of land in Ampang Jajar in Central Seberang Prai for the same headquarters?” he added when interjecting during state Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan’s winding-up speech yesterday.

DISCUSSION TIME: (From left) State executive councillor Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad discussing a matter with Komtar assemblyman Lim Gim Soon and Bagan Jermal assemblyman Ooi Chuan Aik during tea break.

Dr Teng (BN – Pulau Tikus) replied that the land in Ampang Jajar was a former landfill and it was out of the way compared to the site in Bandar Perda, which was more strategically located.

Phee then asked why a low-cost housing project was currently being built at the Ampang Jajar site if it was considered unsuitable for the headquarters.

“I believe what is unsuitable for the rich should be unsuitable for the poor,” he said.

Moreover, he added, the Auditor-General’s Report 2003 had quoted the Japan International Co-operation Agency as saying that housing projects should not be located near landfills.

Phee also asked why the MPSP had engaged a private consultant to conduct a census and revaluation exercise of properties for the new assessment rates to be introduced this year.

To this, Dr Teng said the MPSP had only 37 valuation officers last year and that it was difficult to complete the revaluation exercise within a short period of time.

However, he was not able to say how many officers the consultant had deployed to do the job when Phee asked about this.

Increase in rates come under fire The Star Penang, 21/4/2005

Increase in rates come under fire
The Star Penang, 21/4/2005