CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow today handed over the revised land tax bills to schools on the mainland, marking the rollout of the previously announced nominal RM50 rate per lot for schools across Penang.
The symbolic handover took place during his visit to SRJK(C) Sin Ya and SMJK(C) Jit Sin, followed by a press conference with Buletin Mutiara at SMJK(C) Jit Sin.
Chow said the visit was aimed at delivering the revised bills following the state government’s earlier decision to grant a nominal land tax rate to 398 schools statewide, covering about 522 land lots in total.
He reiterated that the RM50 rate applies regardless of land ownership, including cases where school land is held by companies or trustees, ensuring all schools benefit from the latest land tax review.
“Although this represents foregone revenue for the state, we believe the decision will bring meaningful benefits to school administrators and support education,” he said.
Chow noted that many schools rely heavily on public donations to fund operations and maintenance.
With the revised bills now issued, schools will only need to pay RM50 per lot from this year until the next future land tax review.
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong welcomed the handover, describing it as clear proof of the state government’s commitment to protect education even as the taxation system is standardised.
He shared that SMJK(C) Jit Sin had previously paid more than RM10,000 annually in land tax, making the new RM50 rate significantly lower than what the school had historically paid.
Sim said the initiative ensures schools and the wider public remain shielded from the impact of tax restructuring while reaffirming the state’s priority to safeguard education.
Also present earlier were state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, who is also Padang Lalang assemblyman, and Penang state Education Department director Mohamad Dziauddin Saad.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahma