Member of Parliament for Bagan Lim Guan Eng has expressed his gratitude to DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook for intervening in the ongoing dispute over Penang’s quit rent hikes.
The former chief minister welcomed Loke’s initiative to organize a meeting between himself and current Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. The goal of the meeting is to find a satisfactory resolution to the controversial tax increases, which Lim claimed have reached over 3,000 times the original rates in some instances.
Lim stated that he would refrain from making any further public statements or holding press conferences for affected landowners until the tripartite meeting takes place.
Internal channels exhausted
Defending his previous public stance, Lim clarified that he had exhausted all internal mechanisms with the state government and the chief minister since the hike was first proposed last year. He maintained that his decision to speak out only came after these private efforts failed to produce results.
This follows a stern directive from Loke, who described the public bickering between the two senior leaders as unhealthy and inappropriate. Loke had earlier emphasized that as a former secretary-general, Lim should prioritize party discipline and utilize internal channels for policy disagreements.
The secretary-general also acknowledged that while the state must review commercial quit rent, such adjustments must be balanced and considerate of the grievances raised by stakeholders.
Continued assistance for landowners
Despite the temporary ceasefire on public commentary, Lim assured distressed landowners that his offices would remain active in providing practical support. His parliamentary office in Bagan and his state assemblyperson office in Air Putih will continue to assist the public in filing appeals against the hikes.
To date, Lim’s offices have reportedly assisted approximately 800 landowners in navigating the appeal process and completing the necessary documentation.
The meeting facilitated by the DAP central leadership is expected to address both the technicalities of the tax revision and the restoration of party decorum, ensuring that the focus remains on public service rather than internal friction.
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