A French-themed village called Colmar Tropicale in Bukit Tinggi in Malaysia's Pahang state. AFP
After receiving complaints, the government of Malaysia’s Pahang state has agreed to grant remission of the ‘office fee’ charged upon registration of property dealings.
Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state was always responsive to the people’s complaints, especially those considered reasonable, and thus approved the remission of the registration fees for title transfers and certificates of sale (auction purchases).
With the remission, he said the new rates would start with a 100 ringgit fee for property valued at 50,000 ringgit and below.
Other rates will be 125 ringgit for property valued from 50,000.01 to 100,000 ringgit, 500 ringgit for property 100,000.01 to 150,000, 750 for 150,000.01 to 250,000 and 1,000 for 250,000.01 to 300,000.
The public will be charged 1,200 ringgit for property 300,000.01 to 400,000, 2,500 for 400,000.01 to 600,000, 3,000 for 600,000.01 to 750,000 and 3,500 for 750,000.01 to one million.
A fee of 4,000 ringgit will be charged for property valued from above one million to 1.5 million ringgit, 4,500 for above 1.5 million to two million, 5,000 for above two million to 2.5 million, 5,500 for above 2.5 million to three million and 6,000 for property exceeding three million.
The Pahang Bar recently expressed its dissatisfaction over the fee, calling it an exorbitant increase by the state government.
Its chairman Muthukumar Suya Kumanan pointed out that the rate was gazetted as 50 per cent of the stamp duty payable which meant the registration fee would be 22,000 ringgit for property exceeding one million ringgit in value.
Wan Rosdy said the state also decided on a number of related matters such as charging the old rates for sale and purchase agreements with stamp duty closed before or on January 31, 2021.
He added that refunds would be given to landowners who have already paid the excess registration fees.
Other than that, the registration fee for first-time home buyers would be 100 ringgit only.
“For buyers of the PR1MA Pahang project, Rumah Makmur Pahang or other housing projects under the state, the implementation of the new land transfer registration fee is given a moratorium until December 31, 2021,” he said.
The state had also expanded the definition of gifts of affection between parents and children, spouses and siblings. A minimum fee of 100 ringgit will be charged for this type of transfer.
“I hope the remission and new fee rates can bring relief to all parties,” said Wan Rosdy.
THE STAR (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
