KUCHING – The assessment tax in Sarawak has remained unchanged for more than five decades, making it one of the lowest in Malaysia, despite rising operational costs and growing demands for public services.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, who also serves as Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG), highlighted the situation during the ministry’s awards ceremony in Kuching.
He noted that while other states have raised their assessment rates significantly, Sarawak continues to maintain its long-standing charges.
As an example, Dr Sim pointed out that parking fees under local councils in Sarawak are still set at 20 sen, a rate that has not shifted since the 1970s.
In contrast, councils in other regions have introduced higher charges, with some reaching RM1 per hour. He explained that the decision to keep rates low reflects the state’s commitment to easing the financial burden on residents.
“Why are we doing all this? Because all council members and all parties involved are working hard to help the people, to ensure that the cost of living does not increase,” he said.
The Deputy Premier also urged councils to uphold high standards in governance and service delivery, particularly in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) roadmap.
Sarawak has already achieved progress above the national average, but Dr Sim emphasised the importance of sustaining this momentum.
He described the benchmark as the “Borneo Forest standard,” a higher threshold designed to ensure Sarawak’s development remains ahead of national expectations.
“The important thing is that our Sarawak SDG Roadmap, whether city councils, town councils or rural district councils, must be above the national average. What does above the national average mean? It means we are better than 50 percent, if not higher. This ‘Borneo Forest’ standard is important because as Sarawak moves forward, Sarawak by 2030 will be very different from today.” he explained.
The SDG roadmap, developed in collaboration with Urbanice Malaysia, is being implemented across all 27 local authorities in Sarawak. It aims to localise global sustainability targets to suit the state’s unique context, ensuring inclusivity and resilience in urban and rural communities.
Observers note that while the unchanged assessment tax has helped keep living costs manageable, it also raises questions about long-term financial sustainability for councils tasked with delivering modern infrastructure and services.
Nevertheless, the state government has continued to explore digital payment systems such as eLASIS and SarawakPay, making it easier for residents to settle bills and access council services.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials including MPHLG Deputy Ministers Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee and Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Permanent Secretary Datu Elizabeth Loh, Mayor of Kuching South City Council Dato Wee Hong Seng, and Padawan Municipal Council Chairman Cr Tan Kai.
As Sarawak looks ahead to 2030 under its Post-COVID Development Strategy (PCDS 2030), the balance between affordability for citizens and financial sustainability for councils will remain a central challenge.
