Post by : Badri Ariffin

Anthony Loke Siew Fook has called for an immediate end to the public dispute between Lim Guan Eng and Chow Kon Yeow over Penang’s revised quit rent rates, describing the situation as “unhealthy and inappropriate.” He said disagreements on public policy should not be discussed openly in a way that could damage the image of the party and its state government. Loke added that the party leadership is concerned about the ongoing exchanges and plans to arrange a meeting between the two leaders to resolve the issue in a proper and respectful manner through internal discussions.

He also said that party discipline is important and that differences, especially from leaders or members, should be handled through official channels rather than public statements. At the same time, Loke noted that the concerns raised are important and should not be ignored, as they involve public interest and complaints from affected groups. The dispute is linked to Penang’s revised quit rent system for 2026, which was introduced to update rates that had not been reviewed since 1994. Lim had earlier pointed out cases of sharp increases in charges, raising doubts about the system, while Chow defended the changes, saying they are based on factors such as land size, classification, and usage.

Loke stressed that any changes to quit rent, especially for commercial areas and institutions like schools, should be handled carefully and fairly. He said rates for schools should remain low and reasonable. The Penang government has already offered a 50 percent rebate for 2026 and set a fixed low rate for school land, while also receiving more than 1,000 appeals from landowners regarding the revised charges. Loke concluded that the public disagreement must stop so that leaders can focus on governance and serving the people instead of continuing a dispute that has drawn widespread attention.

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