Collect all debts, MBSA told

Ang Leng Kiat: Why is the council’s expenditure higher than its profit?

NST : Friday, 1 August 2008

SHAH ALAM: Councillors are calling on the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) not to practise double standards when it comes to council policies and enforcement.

This was raised during the council's fullboard meeting by councillor Norhalim Sirome after a financial report showing that a political party owed tax arrears in Shah Alam was tabled.The financial report showed that up to June, the council has a balance of RM26.9 million in uncollected tax arrears. Norhalim urged the council to expedite the collection of the backlog payment from the political party.

Council president Mazalan Md Noor said a meeting between the political party and MBSA will be held soon to discuss the terms of payment. "The party has asked us to reschedule the repayment of the outstanding arrears. We have received a sum of RM50,000 from the party this month," he said.

Meanwhile councillor Ang Leng Kiat expressed his astonishment at the report showing that the council expenditures were higher than the profit gained from tax arrears and non-tax arrears income. The report showed that MBSA had profited by 47.32 per cent up to June, but at the same time, had spent RM108.7 million, which is 4.25 per cent more than the profit chalked.

However, Mazalan said the MBSA had nothing to worry about as the council's financial standing is strong.On the uncollected debts over the years, Mazalan said the debts had no expiry date."No debt will be waived and we will collect it in due time," he said.