A total of 166,000 protests from property owners in the city were received over the proposed increase in assessment rate by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) so far, its mayor, Ahmad Phesal Talib said today.

He said some of the protests were sent by the same property owners.

“The period for objection is until March 31 and if there is still objection by then, DBKL will consider whether or not to extend the period further,” he told a media conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

It had been reported that the assessment rate would be increased in accordance with the Local Government Act 1976. The rate has not been raised for 21 years.

The new increased rate was supposed to have been enforced last Jan 1, but was postponed due to objections by property owners.

Ahmad Phesal said a panel, comprising representatives from the DBKL advisory board, surveyors, lawyers and private valuers, would scrutinise objections raised by property owners.

During the media conference, he also announced the appointment of Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz as the new DBKL director-general, effective today, replacing Salleh Yusup, who retired.

Mohd Amin Nordin, 59, from Negri Sembilan, was formerly DBKL deputy director-general (socio-economic development), a post he held since 2011.

- Bernama