ISKANDAR PUTERI – Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has consented to the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council being given city status and declared the Pasir Gudang City Council effective today.
Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said this after a meeting with the council's staff at Kota Iskandar here today, during which he also handed over the instrument on the proclamation of the status change to its mayor, Asman Shah Abdul Rahman.
Present were Johor State Secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani and state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Ayub Jamil.
Hasni said the city council is the third local government authority in the state to be upgraded to a city after the Johor Baru City Council in 1994 and the Iskandar Puteri City Council in 2017.
“Pasir Gudang’s rapid development as an industrial city and port by having two international ports and the comprehensive infrastructure that prioritises the people’s well-being meet the requirements and, therefore, it is appropriate for Pasir Gudang to be accorded city status,” he said.
Hasni said the council's jurisdiction covers 35.956ha, encompassing Mukim Tiram and Mukim Plentong, with a population of 533,868 people who are Malay (66%), Chinese and Indian (11% each), and others (2%).
There are 90,758 property holdings with an estimated revenue of RM127.2 million per year, he said, adding that as of December 31 last year, the council collected about RM103 million in current assessment rate. It also collected almost RM19 million in assessment tax arrears, or 61.1 percent of the total arrears of RM30.9 million.
On the total revenue collected during the same period, he said, it amounted to RM182.7 million.
He said the state government thanked the Johor king for his consent in the proclamation and hopes the move will enhance Pasir Gudang's development and the surrounding localities.
Meanwhile, Asman Shah, who is former Mersing district officer, said he will focus on security issues and the well-being of the people.
“My focus is on making Pasir Gudang a safe and sustainable industrial city for its residents to live in.
"Besides that, I will also focus on the social aspects, including ensuring the continuity of the 16 traditional villages in the city area," he added. – Bernama, November 22, 2020
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