Secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has ordered former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng and his successor, Chow Kon Yeow, to put an end to their public spat over the state’s quit rent issue.
Loke stated that the central leadership of DAP is deeply concerned by the public disagreement between the two leaders. He described the situation as an unhealthy and inappropriate way to handle internal differences regarding public policies.
As the transport minister and party head, Loke emphasized that Lim, given his history as a former secretary-general and former chief minister, should understand the necessity of maintaining party discipline.
Internal mechanisms over public airing
Loke stressed that any disagreements from state backbenchers should be conveyed through established internal mechanisms rather than being aired in the public domain.
He noted that differences of opinion should not be expressed in a manner that undermines the current chief minister or the state government.
At the same time, Loke pointed out that while Lim’s approach was inappropriate, Chow must take the concerns raised seriously as they involve public interest and grievances from various stakeholders.
Balancing tax reviews and public interest
Loke acknowledged that the Penang government needs to review quit rent rates in commercial zones periodically. However, he maintained that such reviews must be conducted in a balanced and considerate manner.
He insisted that the public spat must conclude immediately and that party discipline must be upheld at all times. To facilitate this, Loke announced he would convene a meeting with both leaders to resolve the matter in an amicable fashion.
He reminded all party members that the primary focus of leadership must be on serving the people. He urged them to avoid public bickering and instead seek constructive cooperation.
The directive follows a week of back-and-forth exchanges between Lim and Chow. The dispute intensified after Chow claimed that several landowners who criticized the revised rates at a press conference held by Lim had omitted key details about their lot sizes and land usage.
Chow noted that some cases involved land used for timber storage, container placement, or factory-related activities. In response, Lim urged the chief minister to personally inspect the complaints rather than relying solely on feedback from land and mines officers, a suggestion to which Chow replied that he maintained full trust in his officers.
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