Seberang Perai became the nation’s 14th city today, and its outgoing municipal council president, Datuk Rozali Mohamud, was appointed mayor.

The Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) was officially declared the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) by Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas in conjunction with Malaysia Day.

The declaration was made during a historic ceremony at Dewan Millenium in Kepala Batas, near here.

The event kicked-off with the arrival of Abdul Rahman and his wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff; and the singing of “Negaraku” followed by the state anthem, “Untuk Negeri Kita”.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin then handed over the declaration letter by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Seberang Perai’s new city council status, to the Penang Governor.

“It has been granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who declared, established and directed the MPSP, which… from Sept 16, 2019, will become a city called MBSP and not MPSP, with all the rights of a city,” Abdul Rahman said in reading out the declaration.

Next, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow read out the letter of appointment of MPSP President Datuk Rozali Mohamud as Seberang Perai Mayor before the Governor.

This was followed by Rozali taking his oath as the first mayor of Seberang Perai, before being presented with the Chain of the Office and the Official Mace (Cokmar).

Speaking after the ceremony, Rozali thanked and congratulated the residents of Seberang Perai on the milestone event.

He said without the residents’ cooperation, it would not have been possible for Seberang Perai to achieve its new-found city status.

“That’s why I am going to announce a few goodies for the people, which includes 18 programmes and six guidelines that would give (Seberang Perai) the feel of an upgraded city.

“I am sure the incentives and programmes will fulfil the wishes of the people, as they are (the result of) townhall sessions and discussions with the people,” he added.

Talk of Seberang Perai being upgraded to a city began right after the Penang Island City Council obtained its city status in 2015.

The state government’s formal application for MPSP to be upgraded to a city was approved by Cabinet in May this year.

MPSP was the largest municipality in the country, administering three districts with 54 localities.

Its elevation to city status now makes Seberang Perai the country’s largest city council, covering 747.8 sq km, with a population of 946,200.

With today’s declaration, both local authorities in Penang are city councils.

They join 12 other cities in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Alor Star, Johor Baru, Melaka City, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Kuching North and Kuching South.

Source: NST Online

Penang property owners have to be prepared to pay higher assessment rates next year as the state’s two local councils review the rates to counter increased expenditures.

All property owners will receive the notices on the increase this month, and they have up to October 14 to send in appeals against the new rates, reported the Malay Mail today.

“It has been 15 years since we reviewed the assessment rates and we are reviewing it now in accordance with the provisions of the law,” state local government, housing development and town and country planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said in a press conference today,

He revealed that higher spending costs have led to an annual deficit budget since 2016 for the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP).

Jagdeep refused to reveal the rate of the raise, but merely said it would depend on the property type, location and size.

However, Sin Chew Daily had earlier reported an expected hike of up to 30%.

A total of 322,549 properties on the island and 327,401 on the mainland will fall under the review.

The increase has been calculated to bring in an additional revenue of RM54,338,822 for MBPP and RM39,743,077.02 for MPSP next year, but Jagdeep said “the extra revenue will barely be able to cover the expenditure of both councils”.

“MBPP will be implementing 31 infrastructure projects between 2020 and 2022 at a cost of RM179.03 million so the extra RM54 million from the assessment rate increase does not cover this full sum,” he explained.

MPSP will also be carrying out 46 projects between 2020 and 2022, costing RM169.74 million.

Compared to 2005, MBPP’s and MPSP’s 2019 overall expenditures shot up by 291% (RM196.391 million) and 784% (RM107 million) respectively.

Jagdeep pointed out the state’s property assessment rates are still the lowest in Malaysia compared to Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and even Kota Kinabalu.

Source: EdegeProp.my

The proposed Penang undersea tunnel project report submitted for review by the technical consultant is over 90% complete and there’s no plan to stop the projects. We have also touched on the Penang Sky Cab cable car project, which will link Seberang Prai to the island.

In the interview below, Penang Chief Minister shares with us the latest status of the undersea tunnel and sky cab projects.

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Penang CM speaks to Penang Property Talk on Vision 2030

All parties should stop the polemic over the issue of unsold luxury properties in the country as they are being promoted abroad under the procedures and conditions of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah (pictured) said MM2H is not a new programme as it has been established since 2002.

“There is a confusion…the glut of luxury houses is not being promoted under the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) but through MM2H…the people need not worry about it as MM2H will not affect house ownership by them.

“The primary focus of the ministry is still on providing affordable homes for Malaysians… this is our commitment,” he told reporters after opening a Merdeka @Komuniti programme for Terengganu Chinese community at Kampung Cina here last night.

About 400 members of the Chinese community in Terengganu attended the function organised by the Information Department to highlight the National Month celebrations.

On Thursday, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin in a statement clarified that the sales of houses priced more than RM1 million would be carried out under the MM2H campaign and not through HOC.

She said the MM2H programme is open to all foreigners while China and Hong Kong were singled out as the price of properties there are very high.

With the explanation, Raja Bahrin hopes the people would not be easily influenced by propaganda of opposition who are taking the opportunity to create confusion.

Source: EdgeProp.my

Penang’s two local councils will be increasing the assessment rates on all properties within the state in 2020.

State local government, housing development and town and country planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the hike was due to higher spending costs.

“It has been 15 years since we reviewed the assessment rates and we are reviewing it now in accordance with the provisions of the law,” he told a press conference here today.

He said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) have been recording an annual deficit budget since 2016.

Jagdeep did not disclose the percentage of increase in the rates when asked, saying instead that the hike will depend on the property type, location and size.

But Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily had previously reported that the rates could rise as much as 30 per cent.

The properties that will be reviewed total 322, 549 on the island and 327,401 on the mainland.

Notices on the increase will be sent to all property owners this month and property owners are given until October 14 to submit appeals against the new rates.

Jagdeep said the higher assessment rates will mean additional revenue of RM54,338,822 for MBPP and RM39,743,077.02 for MPSP next year.

However, he added that the extra revenue will barely be able to cover the expenditure of both councils.

“MBPP will be implementing 31 infrastructure projects between 2020 and 2022 at a cost of RM179.03 million so the extra RM54 million from the assessment rate increase does not cover this full sum,” he said.

Similarly, MPSP will be implementing 46 project between 2020 and 2022 at a cost of RM169.74 million which is more than the extra RM39 million from the increase in rates.

He said MBPP saw an increase in overall expenditures by RM196.391 million or 291 per cent in 2019 compared to 2005 while MPSP saw an increase of RM107 million or 784 per cent compared to 2005.

Jagdeep said that Penang’s assessment rates are still the lowest nationwide in comparison to properties in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and even Kota Kinabalu.

Source: MalayMail.com