KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s decision to reduce assessment rates in Selangor right before a much anticipated general election shows Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) insincerity, MCA said today.

MCA state liaison committee secretary Wong Koon Mun said today the Selangor mentri besar’s (picture) announcement that the state government is giving a 20-25 per cent discount on assessment rates to low-cost flat dwellers “comes too little too late and lacks sincerity”.

“That move, which comes at the last minute, shows a half-baked rushed attempt merely to prevent the public from criticising the state government of failing to deliver a 12th general election promise which was touted during the campaign period,” Wong said today in a press statement.

“Back then, the Barisan Alternatif manifesto had promised to reduce the assessment rate for residential homes by 20 per cent and commercial premises by 10 per cent.”

However, he pointed out, “to date, no such decrease has been implemented”.

“On the contrary, land revaluation raised the money owed by the people and nullified potential savings when assessment rates and quit rent soared,” he said

He added that assessment rates imposed on SMI (small medium industries) in Sungai Buloh New Village and Shah Alam had shot up four-hold.

Wong also accused Khalid’s government of selective preference.

“While it is laudable to finally reduce the financial burden of lower-income groups who own low-cost units, the manifesto did not come with any fine print or caveat that other working and middle-classes would be excluded,” he said.

“They (the working and middle-class) too struggle with rising costs of living and should similarly receive the rate decrease as promised in the manifesto.”

Wong said all Selangor homeowners and commercial building owners, who had expected their properties to be included in the reduction of assessment rates, have been let down by PR’s broken promise.