KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA: Property owners owe the local government a whopping RM100mil(S$42.4 mil).

The defaulters have not made any attempt to pay their assessment and quit rent for umpteen years, despite repeated reminders and warnings.

An upset Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said described the defaulters as an ignorant group who don't seem bothered to settle their dues.

It was unfortunate that property owners in Terengganu were not like those in Selangor and the Klang Valley who would pay up promptly, he said here yesterday.

He said that in Kuala Terengganu, only 50% of property owners paid their assessment and quit rent on time.

He said the defaulters had disregarded the notices and warnings even though the rates and taxes had remained unchanged since 1981.

Ahmad said that due to this lackadaisical attitude, the onus of sustaining local government expenditure in maintaining cleanliness and garbage collection was borne by the state.

He said that local government spending had also increased, adding that Kemaman required RM10mil annually for maintenance works.

"This would be turned into a political issue if we decide to proceed with stern action like sealing the defaulters" properties but we cannot go on allowing these dodgers to continue doing so," he warned.