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Lim Guan Eng calls for Penang fee, land tax and water tariff hikes to be deferred

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — DAP’s Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng has urged the Penang government to emulate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by deferring increases in...

Malay MailMalay Mail2026-09-04 08:50查看原文 ↗

DAP's Lim Guan Eng has urged the Penang government to defer fee, land tax, and water tariff increases to ease financial burdens on businesses and households.

He criticised the refusal to defer a water tariff hike, which is expected to generate RM20 million but impacts 1.8 million residents negatively.

Lim suggested the state seek federal support, noting that the federal government owes Penang RM2.8 billion, to avoid burdening residents with the tariff increase.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — DAP’s Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng has urged the Penang government to emulate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by deferring increases in fees, land tax and water tariffs to ease the financial burden on businesses and households.

Lim said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari should adopt the same reformist approach and political will to fulfil the election manifesto and ease the cost of living for Penang residents.

He said many landowners in Penang were struggling to cope with sharply higher land tax this year, particularly amid an uncertain economic outlook and rising fuel prices linked to the US-Iran conflict.

“Chow Kon Yeow should defer all increases until the global economy and its outlook become stable again,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lim also criticised Zairil for refusing to support a postponement of the 20-sen increase in the water tariff per cubic metre, which took effect on July 1.

He said the increase would generate an additional RM20 million a year for Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP), but would have a negative impact on 1.8 million Penang residents.

Lim cited PBAPP’s financial results, saying its pre-tax profit more than doubled from RM23.1 million in the first quarter of 2025 to RM49.6 million in the same period this year.

He said PBAPP’s RM49.6 million pre-tax profit for the first three months of 2026 was already more than double the RM20 million in additional annual revenue expected from the tariff increase.

“Therefore, if the water tariff increase is deferred for one year, PBAPP should be able to withstand it financially,” he said.

Lim added that should PBAPP urgently require the RM20 million, the state government could seek a federal grant or loan instead.

He questioned why the federal government would reject such assistance, claiming Putrajaya owed Penang RM2.8 billion after returning only RM7.9 billion of the RM10.7 billion contributed by the state between 2023 and 2025.

“Where there is a will, there is a way; as long as the state government continues to put the people first rather than PBA Holdings Bhd,” he said.

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民主行动党的林冠英敦促槟城州政府推迟提高各项费用、土地税和水费，以减轻企业和家庭的经济负担。

他批评政府拒绝推迟水费上涨，预计这将带来 2000 万令吉的收入，但会对 180 万居民产生负面影响。

林建议州政府寻求联邦政府的支持，并指出联邦政府欠槟城28亿令吉，以避免因水费上涨而给居民带来负担。

吉隆坡，9月4日讯——民主行动党亚依白州议员林冠英敦促槟城州政府效仿首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣，推迟提高各项费用、土地税和水费，以减轻企业和家庭的经济负担。

林冠英表示，首席部长曹观友和州行政议员扎伊里尔·基尔·佐哈里应该采取同样的改革方针和政治决心，以兑现竞选宣言，减轻槟城居民的生活成本。

他表示，今年槟城许多土地所有者难以应对大幅上涨的土地税，尤其是在经济前景不明朗以及与美伊冲突相关的燃油价格上涨的情况下。

“曹观友应该推迟所有加薪，直到全球经济及其前景再次稳定下来，”他昨天在一份声明中表示。

林冠英还批评扎伊里尔拒绝支持推迟每立方米水费上涨 20 仙的计划，该计划于 7 月 1 日生效。