Cracking down on defaulters
27/12/2006 The Star

THE Alor Star City Council has started tracking down 19,000 building owners who owe assessment rates totalling RM18.1mil accumulated over the past 10 years.

Alor Star Mayor Datuk Abdul Mukhti Abdullah said that the council had collected RM81,794 from 20 defaulters since the operation started on Dec 18.

The defaulters were main-ly owners of residential and business premises, he said.

“Shop owners owed the most with several owing up to RM8,000 each,” Abdul Mukhti said.

“We have sent out letters reminding defaulters to pay up by Feb 28,” he said.

“We will seal their premises if they fail to pay up then,” he told newsmen at a press conference after chairing a full council meeting yesterday.

Abdul Mukhti said ratepayers could also make payment at post offices, Bank Sim-panan Nasional or through Internet banking.

He also reminded rate- payers in the city to pay next year’s assessment rates early.

“Gifts will be given to those who pay up early,” he said.

On another matter, Abdul Mukhti said several projects had been planned for next year to create a clean city.

Asked about the appointment of new city councillors, Abdul Mukhti said this would be done in January.

“The state government will appoint the new councillors and I was informed that there will be several new faces,” he said.