KUCHING: The new quit rent is not more than 100 per cent, the Sarawak Land and Survey Department has clarified.
Director Abdullah Julaihi said in a statement on Friday (Dec 30) that the new quit rent would not increase from 400 to 700 per cent, as reported in the media.
“For the record, the 400 to 700 per cent increase in land tax rates published in the media is inaccurate.
“The new land tax rate increase is not greater than 100 per cent of the old land tax rate. Furthermore, this rise only affects 8 per cent (59,710) of Sarawak’s total registered land, which totals 734,388 acres and includes land for commercial, industrial, office, and recreational use.
“While another 92 per cent (674,678) of land owned by Sarawakians remains untaxed,” he said.
As a result, he noted that reports and figures claiming that the new land tax rate would increase by 400 to 700 per cent are inaccurate and misleading. In fact, this land tax review includes a reduction in land tax rates ranging from 7 to 20 per cent for certain land uses.
In comparison to big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Ipoh, George Town, and Johor Bahru, this new rate is still among the lowest in Malaysia.
