Latest news with #MPKu
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Johor govt monitors Pengerang, Kulai development projects for efficiency
JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor government is closely tracking development projects under the Pengerang Municipal Council (MPP) and Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) to ensure timely and high-impact execution. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor emphasised the need for organised implementation during a review of second-quarter 2025 progress. Key initiatives under MPP include the Sungai Lebam Recreation Centre, now accelerated with added facilities such as a dock, retention pond, and public green spaces. Mohd Jafni noted that Johor Selamat's smart CCTV and integrated operations centre are 60 per cent complete, set to serve 50,000 residents in Desaru, Punggai, and Sungai Rengit, especially within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Flood-prone zones like Taman Bayu Damai, Jalan Kempas 1, Kampung Jawa, and Penawar Harmoni are receiving drainage upgrades, with retention pond construction 60 per cent finished. Road repairs in Desaru are 80 per cent done. For MPKu, ongoing works include smart poles, digital signage, and stormwater management, progressing between 25 and 70 per cent. - Bernama
The Star
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Anxiety over assessment tax crackdown in Johor
Instead of coming down hard on ratepayers, local councils should offer incentives to boost payment TWO years ago, there was much hue and cry when five local councils in Johor decided to hike their property assessment taxes, with some going up by more than 100%. The councils claimed that the last time valuations were done was in 2013. And since then, property prices had increased significantly, especially in cities such as Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang and Iskandar Puteri. This prompted Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to mitigate the fallout and cushion the impact among property owners by offering a 30% rebate last year. This rebate was subsequently expanded to include another 10 local councils, bringing the total number to 15 statewide. Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) was the only local council to revise its assessment rates before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 and, as such, taxpayers there were not given rebates. Lately, I have been getting queries from people about images on social media showing local council enforcement personnel pasting red notices outside homes and even using tape to seal off entrances. There was also a video of people in uniform using metal cutters to cut padlocks or locking up homes. I discovered that some of the videos were posted earlier in the year but only started trending now. I found that two videos by Pasir Gudang City Council and Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) showed enforcement officers cutting locks, sealing homes and pasting red notices outside homes. At the same time, I also found two light-hearted videos done by Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and MPKu to encourage people to pay their assessment tax on time. The latter was even offering a gift and bag to those who paid before the deadline. This begs the question: Why the contrasting methods to get people to pay up? When contacted, Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor acknowledged that a special operation was being conducted statewide by all 16 local councils to go after owners with high outstanding assessment tax bills. Enforcement officers from Pasir Gudang City Council putting up notices before sealing a premises in their jurisdiction. — Courtesy photo He said the enforcement operations had to be done as they were getting complaints from prompt taxpayers. Mohd Jafni urged all property owners to come forward and settle their dues. I own a double-storey terrace house in Taman Desa Tebrau and was paying RM353.60 annually in assessment tax before the amount jumped 45% to RM512.80 this year. At the same time, MBJB has revalued my home from RM272,000 to RM641,000, a whopping 135% jump since I purchased the property 15 years ago. I had previously worked in the Klang Valley before moving down south and sometimes I find the cost of living in Johor is much higher than in Kuala Lumpur, maybe due to the strong Singapore dollar. I am sure some property owners may have overlooked paying their assessment taxes because of their hectic work schedules. As such, local councils should try other ways to coax people to pay their taxes, instead of resorting to such high-handed tactics. In addition to physical bills sent through the post, local councils should also follow up with SMS, WhatsApp and email to get ratepayers to settle their dues on time. Why not give an incentive in the form of a 10% rebate to those who pay early or sign up for auto debit? For those having trouble paying, local councils should offer flexible instalment plans. A little more empathy and creativity can go a long way.
The Star
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
New platform to reach Kulai council
Mohd Hafiz (sixth from left) at the launch of MPKu's WhatsApp hotline number at Menara MPKu. Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) has launched a WhatsApp hotline number to make it easier for people to lodge complaints. MPKu president Mohd Hafiz Aliman said he expects the public to make full use of the new hotline number, which is 019-758 2828. 'Prior to this, there were already several ways to lodge complaints with MPKu. 'These include the Public Complaints Management System (Sispaa), which is under the Public Complaints Bureau. 'Besides that, the public can also call the council's regular number, write a letter or go directly to our service counters to lodge a complaint,' he said when met after launching the hotline following the full board meeting at Menara MPKu. He added that MPKu had decided to use the WhatsApp platform to make it easier for residents and business operators to lodge complaints with the council. 'If they have issues that need the council's attention, they can send a message, including photos, through WhatsApp. 'The complaint will be directed to any of the 16 departments under MPKu for immediate action. 'We expect good response. This is good as it will help us improve our service,' he said. Separately, Mohd Hafiz said that the council would also review its by-laws to curb immigrants from carrying out businesses within its jurisdiction. Current by-laws do not allow foreigners from opening any business, he said. 'However, through enforcement action, we found that some of these foreigners married locals. 'This made it easier for them to apply for a licence and open a shop,' he said, adding that there should be no loopholes that certain quarters could abuse. 'As MPKu is part of Greater Johor Baru, which includes other local authorities such as Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG), Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), we need to see how the other councils have addressed this matter. 'Some of them have improved their respective by-laws. 'If it has worked in their areas, we will review it and implement it here as well,' said Mohd Hafiz.
