State Housing, Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo today said that taxpayers residing in low-cost (LC), low-medium cost (LMC) and village houses in Penang were granted a 100% rebate on the increase in tax assessment for 2021, which was approved earlier.

He said other housing units in Penang not categorised under LC, LMC or village housing were given a 50% rebate on the increase in tax assessment for this year.

“The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has granted an overall RM10.3 million in tax assessment rebates for Penang island.

“The Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has provided RM14.2 million in rebates on the mainland,” he said at a press conference here.

Last year, RM47.3 million in tax assessment was not collected by both city councils to ease the burden of taxpayers.

He said the waiver was given according to the Local Government Act 1976, which includes allowing the public to make their objections with regard to the increase in tax assessment.

Among the main objections to the increase was that it was too sudden and imposed at a time when the people were struggling with the high cost of living amid the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.

Earlier, Jagdeep attended the “Back to School” programme with Jelutong MP RSN Rayer and Malaysia Hindhudharma Maamandram (Penang branch) chairman NK Thanabalan at the Penang Hindu Endowment Board here.

Thanabalan, who organised the programme, said that 200 Penang students from the B40 community were given a RM100 voucher to purchase school uniforms, bags and stationery.