SEEK CLARIFICATION ON 2026 QUIT RENT VIA LAND AND DISTRICT OFFICES - CHOW 

GEORGE TOWN, March 7 (Bernama) – Landowners in Penang are advised to liaise directly with their respective land and district offices for clarification and submit appeals if necessary regarding the new 2026 Quit Rent (land tax) rates.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this advice also extends to elected representatives, particularly members of Parliament and assemblymen, should they have any queries.

He explained that Penang's new quit rent rates are calculated based on four criteria: land classification (urban or rural), land area, current usage and applicable rate.

“We are continuously monitoring issues raised by affected landowners and will make improvements to both the implementation guidelines and quit rent appeals mechanism to help everyone adjust to this new system.

"I will announce the outcome of appeal cases received by the District and Land Offices following the state executive council meeting next week," he said in a statement today.

Chow added that in January, the state government set a nominal tax rate of RM50 per lot for all government and private schools in Penang.

Accordingly, he urged school management to update their land use classification at their respective land offices to qualify for the rate.

On Wednesday, Chow said the revised quit rent calculation under the 2026 review is fairer and more equitable for all landowners, with no distinction between First Grade and non-First Grade holders.

The state government conducted the quit rent review and rural-to-urban land reclassification for the whole of Penang under Section 101 of the National Land Code (Act 828), which took effect on Jan 1.

The exercise covers nearly 370,000 land titles across Penang, spanning residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and other special use categories.

-- BERNAMA