Defer assessment hike in Sandakan, urge Sabah reps

KOTA KINABALU: The Sandakan Municipal Council has received instructions to temporarily postpone the planned increase in house assessment rates starting from 2024.

Due to various public protests on the matter, local elected representatives in Sandakan are urging the state government not to proceed with the assessment hike.

Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon has appealed to the state Local Government and Housing Ministry to consider a moratorium until economic conditions improve.

“I will be urging the state Local Government and Housing Minister (Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam) to implement a moratorium until the economy shows signs of improvement,” stated the Sabah DAP chairman.

Poon recently held a meeting with Sandakan Municipal Council president Henry Idol to discuss the issue of house assessments.

“I encouraged the president to acknowledge the predicament faced by Sandakan property owners in light of the proposed increase in assessment rates.

“I requested that they explore possibilities of postponing the implementation for at least one more year, allowing time for economic conditions to ameliorate,” he explained.

He emphasized that many individuals are still struggling to recover from the financial stresses and setbacks inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic, thus requiring additional time to regain stability.

“We are still facing difficulties, and yet we are burdened by yet another increase in expenses,” lamented Poon.

He further revealed that the council president informed him that the assessment had not been reviewed for a “considerable period,” despite the requirement for a review every four years according to law.

Last month, Parti Warisan assemblymen – Calvin Chong (Elopura), Arunarnsin Taib (Gum Gum), and Alias Sani (Sekong) – representing the Sandakan area, also urged the state government to reconsider the assessment hike due to the high cost of living being endured by the populace.

They highlighted that some businesses reported assessment increases ranging from 30% to 80%.

The assemblymen expressed the belief that any fee hike should only occur after the council improves its services for the community.

ENDS