GEORGE TOWN: The open exchanges between Bagan member of parliament Lim Guan Eng and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over Penang's quit rent hikes show no signs of abating.
Lim has intensified his criticism, claiming that many voters would not have supported the state leadership if they had known the 2023 state election manifesto allowed for such steep increases in quit rent rates.
He expressed shock at Chow's recent remarks that an election manifesto is not a binding document and does not restrict the state from introducing new policies.
Lim said this includes significant quit tax hikes deemed necessary for economic stability.
Lim stressed that the "Kita Penang, Kita Boleh" unity manifesto launched ahead of the last state polls did not indicate that the quit rent hikes could be increased by thousands of times.
"There was no indication to us as candidates then that the manifesto allowed such drastic hikes.
"Many voters would not have supported the chief minister if they had known this," he said in his social media posting.
In his recent press conference, Chow addressed criticism that the state government's initiatives were not part of its election manifesto, saying such arguments were misplaced.
"The manifesto outlines what a party commits to when contesting elections, and we report progress on those commitments annually in the state assembly," he said.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/03/1400321/chow-rebuts-claims…
Chow cited the establishment of the Penang International Financial Centre (PIFC) as an example, noting that it was not included in the 15th state election manifesto, but was still implemented due to current economic needs.
Lim urged the state government to honour its manifesto pledge to ensure that no group is marginalised and that development benefits all segments of society.
Describing the increases as excessive, he cited several cases involving sharp hikes affecting landowners across the state, including in Batu Kawan.
He said some landowners experienced increases running into hundreds or even thousands of times, causing distress and financial strain.
Lim also claimed his office had received numerous complaints, including from a landowner in Simpang Empat, who is struggling with declining business and loan commitments following a sharp rise in the quit rent hike.
He questioned Chow's assertion that he had not received many complaints during his engagements statewide, asking whether the chief minister had sufficiently met affected constituents in Batu Kawan.
Lim further criticised the state government for defending the accuracy of the quit rent calculations, noting that several cases saw reductions of between 80 and 90 per cent after being raised.
"If the system is correct, why are there such significant reductions? This shows the calculation system is flawed and needs to be reviewed," he said.
Lim has maintained a steady stream of criticism against Chow since the new quit rent rates took effect at the beginning of the year.
He called for a reassessment of the quit rent rates, urging the state government to consult stakeholders and introduce a fairer and more reasonable mechanism.
Lim added that the government should prioritise the people in line with its principles.
Chow recently dismissed claims that he was out of touch with grassroots concerns, stressing that his frequent statewide engagements, including the Jelajah Ramadan programme, demonstrated otherwise. - NST
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