After Loke's rebuke, Guan Eng to stand down on land tax criticism

 

DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng said he will refrain from making public statements critical of the Penang government's land tax policy, following a reprimand from the party's secretary-general, Anthony Loke.

In a statement to Malaysiakini today, Lim expressed gratitude to Loke (above, right) for his concern and initiative in convening a tripartite meeting between Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Loke, and himself to find a satisfactory resolution to the quit rent hike issue.

Lim claimed that in some cases, the increase this year is by more than 3,000-fold.

"Since the quit rent hike was first mooted last year, I have exhausted all internal mechanisms with the state government and the Penang chief minister before making my disagreement public.

"Until this meeting between the three of us is held, I will not be making any public statements or holding press conferences for distressed landowners affected by the exorbitant hike in quit rent.

"I wish to assure the affected landowners that my parliamentary office in Bagan and my state assemblyperson office in Air Putih in Penang will still be open and available to assist them in appealing the quit rent hike, including filling out the appeal forms," Lim said.

He added that to date, both his offices have assisted up to 800 landowners.

Criticism rebutted

Loke earlier rebuked Lim over the latter's continued criticism of Chow.

Chow Kon Yeow

In a statement, he said that the DAP leadership is "deeply concerned and disturbed" by the ongoing public dispute between the former Penang chief minister and Chow, regarding the new land tax rates in Penang.

He said that he would also be arranging a meeting between the two men to resolve their ongoing issues amicably.

Loke described the public spat as an unhealthy and inappropriate way to settle internal differences on public policy matters, noting that it came at a particularly sensitive time amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

He also labelled Lim's approach as "highly inappropriate."

However, Loke stressed that despite this, Chow, as chief minister, should still take the concerns seriously because they touch on public interest and reflect the grievances of various stakeholders.

George Town, Penang

In a statement yesterday, Lim, who is Bagan MP, claimed that many Penang voters would not have supported Chow if they had known the Madani government’s 2023 state election manifesto allowed drastic increases in land tax rates.

In justifying his attack against Chow, Lim highlighted cases in Batu Kawan - Chow’s parliamentary constituency - including a village in Juru where land tax for a house purportedly rose from RM12 to over RM34,000, and another landowner who claimed to be under severe financial pressure due to the revised rates.

In a short statement responding to Lim's criticism, Chow said the focus of the Penang government presently is to allow landowners to appeal. - Mkini