IPOH (Bernama): Approximately RM26.3mil worth of land premium have been collected by the state government between Jan 1 and July 31 this year, the Perak state assembly was told on Monday (Aug 30).

       Mentri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said this made up only 41.33 per cent of the initial target of RM63.6mil, mainly due to the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

       Saarani (BN-Kota Tampan) said this in reply to Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Bersatu-Chenderiang) who wanted to know the amount of land premium collected and the status of reduction of premium rate applications submitted by property developers in Perak.

       The Mentri Besar said any decision to reduce the premium rate would need an in-depth study by taking into account the interests of both the government and the developers before it could be implemented.

       Besides, he said the state government had also implemented Phase One of the Perak Sejahtera Economic Stimulus Package (June 1-Aug 31) and will implement Phase Two from Sept 1 to Dec 31, which provides for various benefits such as the extension of late assessment penalty waiver for all titled property as well as a discount for lump-sum payments of arrears.

       "I call on these big companies and all involved to take the opportunity made available in the package and settle the payments within the given period. May the incentives help increase the state government’s revenue and that the developers could continue carrying out their projects,” he said.- Bernama