SEVERAL property owners of Taman Bintang Mas, a new residential area in Dengkil are crying foul over the steep annual assessment rate they have to pay on their properties beginning next year.

The buyers had only received the keys to their new homes in July, and their joy turned to despair when they received a hefty RM352 assessment bill.

The letter from the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSp) dated Aug 13 had also asked the residents to write in within 10 days if they were not happy with the figure stated.

However, the residents claimed they only received the letters in the last week of August and could not meet the 10-day deadline.

'The long weekend holidays was another hindrance so the council should not assume that we have accepted the amount,' said the Taman Bintang Mas spokesperson, who only wanted to be known as Ah Tek.

Ah Tek said the assessment rate was too high for a property in Dengkil as similar properties in Kajang, which were located in the town, were billed a lesser rate.

'I was told by an officer at MPSp that residents in Dengkil paid the highest premium in the state.

'This is rather disappointing especially when lower assessment rate was one of the promises made by the new state government,' he added.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had said in May that they could not reduce the assessment rate at present but the people would be given discounts on the fines imposed on late payments.

A 70% discount was given to fines imposed on assessment arrears until Dec 31, 2008, while those fined from January this year were given a 100% exemption and the offer was valid until June 30. And those who missed the deadline would have to pay 10% of the fine.

Khalid had said that they would look at the best method to implement rates and review it at the next state budget meeting in 2009.