Chow: Penang must maximise existing land to drive state revenue

George Town: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has emphasized the importance of maximizing the state's limited land resources to boost economic growth, a response to claims by opposition Parti Bersama Malaysia co-founder Rafizi Ramli. Rafizi argued that Penang's constrained land availability hampers the state's revenue generation compared to larger states like Johor.

Chow clarified that this issue is being tackled through the Penang Structure Plan 2040. The plan focuses on acquiring more land and converting rural areas into urban zones to optimize land use. Chow also highlighted that Seberang Prai, with more available land, could contribute to future development under the 2040 plan. Rafizi pointed out that Penang's revenue is heavily dependent on land, particularly land premiums, which are largely under federal jurisdiction. This discrepancy presents a significant challenge for the relatively small state.