JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 1 (Bernama) -- The Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) has identified 30 areas under its administration which are saddled with the highest property tax arrears amounting to RM177 million.

MBJB Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said the areas include Country Garden Danga Bay, R&F Tanjung Puteri, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Stulang, Taman Bayu Puteri, Taman Cahaya Kota Masai, Taman Setia Tropika and Taman Megah Ria.

“MBJB will focus on enforcement action on the 30 main areas with the highest amount of arrears.

“The holdings involved are of the commercial type, 68 per cent of which are serviced apartments and office shops, followed by housing (23 per cent) and industrial (three per cent) units,” he said when presiding over the MBJB full board meeting at its headquarters here today.

He said if the arrears are not dealt with, it would slow down development and infrastructure programmes, maintenance of public facilities and the provision of municipal services.

Therefore, he called on the errant parties to be responsible by paying off tax arrears and stated that MBJB is always open to negotiations with taxpayers in resolving arrears.

Meanwhile, Mohd Noorazam said MBJB collected RM425.07 million in revenue last year, while total expenditure was RM378.62 million.

On bazaar sites, he said MBJB had received applications for 50 bazaar sites for Ramadan and Aidilfitri involving 2,793 lots this year.

“MBJB will call the organisers soon for a briefing on licensing and cleanliness," he added.

-- BERNAMA