Valuation exercise on their radar

Dr Ani (centre) with Teratai assemblyman Yew Jia Haur (seated, fifth from right) and newly appointed MPAJ councillors for the 2024/2025 term. — Photos: WILLIAM GARY/The Star

THE new batch of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) councillors will have their work cut out for them as the property valuation exercise is being carried out this year.

Councillors are aware they need to act as intermediaries between property owners and MPAJ during the process.

Newly appointed councillor Teh Hoong Keat, 37, wants to ensure ratepayers understood the council’s move to carry out the exercise.

“I plan to have engagement sessions with residents,” he said following the swearing-in of councillors for the new term at Menara MPAJ in Ampang Jaya, Selangor.

Teh, from DAP, studied accounting at Universiti Malaya and was previously secretary to Bukit Bintang MP Fung Kui Lun.

DAP’s Alice Tan Swee Boon was reappointed for the fifth term and will serve as party whip.

“The revaluation is needed as the rates have not changed for the past 27 years.

“The councillor’s job is to listen to residents’ voices and allay their concerns,” she said.

With her long experience as councillor, Tan hoped to find ways to help MPAJ reduce expenditure and increase revenue.

StarMetro had previously reported that 182,000 properties in Ampang would undergo a property valuation exercise this year.

The new rates would be used in 2025 if the state approved.

Earlier at the swearing-in ceremony, 23 councillors took their oath of office, with one vacancy yet to be filled.

The division of zones among councillors will be finalised soon, said MPAJ president Dr Ani Ahmad.

“I hope councillors will carry out their duties with integrity and give their best in serving the community.

“We have a good combination of individuals with a wide range of experience,” she said.

Ten councillors are from PKR, six from DAP and seven from Amanah. No councillors are from non-governmental organisations.

There are seven new faces, including Teh, with 16 councillors reappointed.

Other new councillors for the term ending Dec 31, 2025 are Wong Keng Chin (PKR) and Lim Chew Nean (DAP).

New councillors from Amanah are Koh Eng Kee, Abdul Aziz Abd Jalal, Rosmayana Abu Rahim and Syamsudin Suriansah.

Former financial planner Wong, 57, was the Pandan Indah night market organiser between 2021 and 2023.

“Because of my experience, I already have my ear to the ground.

“I want to look for more business and economic opportunities for people here.”

One of the six women appointees is Rosmayana, 47, a political science graduate who had previously set up her own kindergarten.

Reappointed councillors from PKR are Mohamed Radziff Hassan, Muhammad Syafiq Zulkifli, Nadesan Varathan, Roasiah Ramli, Rozmi Humaidi Zainal Abidin, Muhammad Iman Haziq Mohammad Hamizi, Viknesvaran Jairaman, Datuk Yap Wee Seng and Zafarull Ismail.

Besides Tan, reappointed councillors from DAP are R. Moganraj, Mohammad Firdaus Babh and Lee Wen Bin.

Amanah returnees are Nur Sakinah Mohd Yusoff, Engku Faizan Azhar Che Engku Husin and Nor Akidah Awang Ahmad.