KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) wants the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to waive a business premises charge for clinics, similar to the waiver given by the Shah Alam City Council.
MMA president Ravindran R. Naidu said many medical practitioners were unhappy with DBKL’s levy as they see the premises licence fee as “redundant”.
“Furthermore, medical practitioners have registered their clinics under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act and governed by the Medical Act 1971, therefore they should not be burdened with another license,” he said in a statement today.
He added that several doctors have been served notices from the DBKL over for failing to obtain a business premises licence for their clinics where they faced a stiff fine of RM2,000.
Ravindran said the MMA and Health Ministry had raised this issue with DBKL previously.
But instead of waiving the premises fees as requested, DBKL only offered a 25 per cent “discount” and a further 50 per cent reduction on parking fees outside the clinics.
Ravidran added that the ministry was not averse to DBKL imposing other charges on clinics, such as for parking and signboard.
