SMC assessment rates go up

SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King said the rates are now at 27 per cent.

“The higher rate is due to an increase of waste management rating percentage from 2 per cent last year to 3.5 per cent this year. We decided to carry out compulsory desludging for all 42,005 rateable properties in areas under us.

“The compulsory desludging is based on the provisions of Chapter 63 of Sewerage Systems and Service Ordinances 2005 and Compulsory Desludging of Septic Tanks of Local Authorities By-Laws 2002. All property in Sibu shall be desludged at frequencies stipulated by the regulations,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Tiong said the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development approved the increase last December.

The new rates are reflected in this year’s assessment bills, which are being sent to all rate payers.

He said the ministry appointed Sar-Alam Indah Sdn Bhd to undertake, maintain, manage and operate the Sibu Sludge Treatment Plant in Kemuyang Road and to provide the collection, removal, treatment and disposal of sludge within SMC areas from 2011.

The minimum volume desludged in 2011 was 10,000 cubic metres; 15,000 cubic metres in 2012; 20,000 cubic metres in 2013; and 25,000 cubic metres annually from this year.

Tiong said the council increased the assessment rates by 2 per cent in 2012 to meet the financial requirements for compulsory desludging.

“To further meet the increased minimum volume to be desludged this year, the council has to increase the rates to meet the estimated expenditure of RM4.5 million per year.

“With the new rates, the council also targets to collect RM36 million in assessment rates this year compared to RM33 million collected in 2013,” he said.