The Federal Constitution supersedes any historical claim that Penang belongs to Kedah, a government backbencher told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) said the constitution clearly provided for all states in Malaysia, including Penang.
“It also recognises Penang as a sovereign state in its own right,” he said, in disputing an opposition MP’s claim that Penang rightfully belonged to the Kedah sultanate.
The debate began when Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) argued that Penang’s history should be reviewed.
Tarmizi claimed that Francis Light’s occupation of the island in 1786 was “unlawful” because the agreement had not involved the British government.
He said Light had illegally “occupied” Penang as there was no agreement between the sultanate and the British.
“Kedah has said that Penang rightfully belonged to the Kedah sultanate under Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah. This matter should be reopened and studied to determine this,” he said.
RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) then said that Articles 4(1) and 4(2) of the constitution stated that Penang was one of the states within the Federation of Malaysia and, therefore, Penang’s sovereignty was not open to challenge.
“It cannot be claimed by anyone, including Kedah,” Rayer said.
Tarmizi’s claim comes days after it was reported that the Kedah government was in the final phase of appointing a legal team to initiate court action over the state’s status and relationship with Penang.
Menteri besar Sanusi Nor said the court action was in response to a call by Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah in 2023 for Kedah’s history, especially the question of Penang being “leased”, to be transparently clarified.
In 2021, Kedah demanded RM100 million a year from the federal government as a “lease payment” for Penang island and Seberang Perai.
However, the Penang government maintains that the sultanate effectively ceded the territories after Merdeka.
In November last year, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said such claims were seditious.
