DAP Chief Loke Scolds Lim Guan Eng & Chow Kon Yeow Over Penang Land Tax Dispute

Kuala Lumpur – Democratic Action Party (DAP) Secretary-General Anthony Loke has publicly rebuked two senior party figures – his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng, and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow – over a widening public dispute concerning revised land tax rates in Penang, Malaysia. Loke stated the party leadership was “deeply concerned and disturbed” by the escalating exchange, deeming it an “unhealthy and inappropriate” way to address internal policy disagreements.

The disagreement centers on a revised quit rent structure implemented in Penang on January 1, intended to address disparities in rates that had remained unchanged since 1994. The revision impacts nearly 370,000 land titles across the state, encompassing residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties, according to the Bernama news agency.

Lim Guan Eng, who served as Penang Chief Minister from 2008 to 2018 and as DAP Secretary-General until 2022, has publicly questioned the magnitude of the tax increases, citing examples of substantial jumps, including cases rising from RM6 to RM19,400 annually and from RM745 to RM489,775. He has held press conferences and facilitated affected landowners in voicing their concerns.

Chow Kon Yeow, the current Penang Chief Minister, has countered that certain parties were sensationalizing the increases without fully understanding the calculation methodology. He affirmed the state government’s willingness to consider appeals, stating it was not adopting a “shock first, appeal later” approach.

Loke, who assumed the role of DAP chief in 2022, emphasized the importance of party discipline, particularly given that DAP governs Penang and is a key component of the federal ruling government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He asserted that disagreements, especially from those no longer holding executive positions within the state government, should be channeled through established internal mechanisms.

In a statement released Saturday, Loke acknowledged the necessitate to review commercial property tax rates to ensure the financial sustainability of the Penang state government. However, he stressed that any such approach must be balanced and responsive to public concerns. He announced his intention to convene a meeting with both Lim and Chow to facilitate a resolution to the dispute.

Lim Guan Eng responded to Loke’s intervention, welcoming the proposed meeting as a step toward resolving the matter. He expressed appreciation for Loke’s willingness to mediate the disagreement.

Loke’s statement underscored the need to uphold party discipline, stating, “This public spat must come to an end, and party discipline must be upheld at all times.”