GEORGE TOWN: Penang DAP has urged the state’s Pas and Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders to clarify their stance on Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s claim over Penang, questioning whether they would “betray” the people by supporting such demands.
State DAP chairman Steven Sim Chee Keong said the party’s position remained firm that the Federal Constitution clearly establishes Penang and Kedah as two separate states within the Federation of Malaysia.
“Penang DAP will continue to defend the Federal Constitution and the sovereignty of the state from any attempt to question its position,” he said in a statement today.
Sim added that it would be more appropriate for the Kedah Menteri Besar to focus on developing the state and safeguarding the welfare of its people, rather than engaging in endless political manoeuvring.
“At the same time, Penang Pas and their partners in PN must explain to the people whether they will betray Penang by agreeing with Pas Kedah’s claim over the state. The people have the right to know their true position,” he said.
On Monday, Sanusi said Kedah was assembling a legal team to bring the case involving the state’s relationship with Penang to court. He said the move followed a call from the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, for the matter to be resolved transparently.
In 2021, the Kedah government demanded RM100 million from the federal government for the “lease” of Penang Island and Seberang Perai, arguing that the amount had not been reassessed since 1786.
Yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he would see the Kedah Menteri Besar in court over the years-long “Penang belongs to Kedah” saga.
Meanwhile, Penang Pas has welcomed efforts to resolve Kedah’s claim over Penang through legal means, describing it as the best approach to ensure justice based on verified historical and legal facts.
Its information chief, Ustaz Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan, said the party supported Chow’s stance that the issue should be settled in court, noting that the matter had gained attention since it was first raised in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly following a royal address several years ago.
He added that the issue was not political in nature but involved diplomatic and legal relations between the Kedah and Penang state governments as well as the federal government.
“We urge all parties to respect the legal process and avoid making speculative or inflammatory statements that could worsen the situation. At the same time, we call on DAP to uphold its own principles of rule of law by allowing the issue to be addressed through the proper legal channels rather than political rhetoric that could mislead the public,” he said in a separate statement.
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