Dr Sim: Assessment rates for PRIMA Bintawa units guided under established professional guidelines

KUCHING (Nov 19): The assessment rates for PRIMA Bintawa properties have been carefully reviewed and maintained to uphold fairness and compliance with established guidelines, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

In his ministerial winding-up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today, the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak addressed concerns raised by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong regarding the assessment rates, of which he emphasised that the process had always adhered to professional standards.

“For the information of ‘Ahli Yang Berhormat’ (assemblyperson) for Pending, the manuals used by local authorities for assessment rates are developed by professional valuers to ensure consistency and legal compliance.

“These manuals provide the standardised methods for property valuation, ensuring that no arbitrary adjustments are made that may lead to compliance issues.”

Dr Sim also disclosed that the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) re-inspected the PRIMA Bintawa in 2021 following requests for a reduction in assessment rates.

The review considered factors such as building conditions, construction materials, as well as the available facilities including kindergartens, suraus, multipurpose halls and recreational facilities.

Dr Sim said despite these amenities, they were not factored into the valuation for rating purposes.

“The current rates for PRIMA Bintawa are RM463.75, RM484.95, and RM540.60 for units measuring 948 square feet, 1,038 square feet, and 1,158 square feet, respectively, before discounts.”

The deputy premier also compared this to Neu Pendington, a nearby strata development, where the rates for units measuring 865 square feet and 1,110 square feet were RM458.45 and RM588.30, respectively.

“After applying the 2016 discount rate introduced by the late (former chief minister Pehin Sri) Adenan Satem, PRIMA Bintawa offers a lower rate per square foot overall than that of Neu Pendington,” he explained.

Dr Sim thus refuted Yong’s claims that ‘nothing was done’ since she raised the issue in 2022, calling her statements as ‘misleading and politically motivated’.

He stressed that MBKS had engaged independent professional valuers from other councils to ensure fairness in the valuation process.

“The eligibility criteria for PRIMA Bintawa ownership include households earning of RM2,500 to RM15,000, encompassing M40 (medium-income) and T20 (high-income) groups.

“The council and government cannot arbitrarily lower assessment rates on the basis of income groups alone, as PRIMA Bintawa caters to a mix of ownerships.”

In this regard, Dr Sim further criticised Yong for attempting to gain political mileage, stating that her claim of championing the ‘rakyat’ (people) was ‘simply a guise’.

Pointing out the importance of consistency in applying policies, Dr Sim stressed that maintaining proper guidelines and valuation principles would ensure justice and sustainability in community living.

“The decision is not arbitrary, but guided by fairness and compliance with legal provisions under the Local Authority Ordinance 1995,” he stated.