The reluctance of Penang PAS to criticise claims by the PAS-led Kedah government about Penang has damaged its credibility as well as that of Perikatan Nasional among voters, say political analysts.
Ooi Kee Beng of Penang Institute criticised Penang PAS information chief Fawwaz Jan for defending the Kedah government’s demand that Putrajaya pay the state a RM100 million annual “lease payment” for Penang.
He said any political party with aspirations to rule Penang cannot agree publicly with what he called Kedah’s ridiculous claims.
“Whether one agrees with the hegemonic intentions of a neighbouring state amounts to a test of sincerity, historical facts and legal rationality.
“Penang PAS’s mischievous stance is exactly why they will not be taken seriously by voters. This stance, coupled with the claim, amounts to deep disrespect of the constitution and disregard of the feelings of fellow Malaysians,” he said.
On Thursday, Fawwaz said the legal case the Kedah government intends to initiate on the matter should be allowed to proceed through proper channels without political interference or speculation that could “cloud the issue”.
He said the court system is the best way to ensure justice is served based on sound law and historical facts, rather than narratives “distorted by colonial powers”.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the fixation of Kedah PAS with the lease issue would hinder its Penang counterpart’s efforts to garner support from non-Malay voters, which is crucial for PN if it aims to govern Penang.
He said the pressure exerted by Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor in the matter makes it harder for Penang PAS to demonstrate its capability to govern the state.
“I think the damage has been done. Non-Malays in Penang will feel apprehensive about PAS as a whole, particularly regarding its presence in Penang,” he told FMT.
Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia also noted that the PN leadership has not issued any official statement disowning Kedah’s claim.
He warned that if Kedah PAS continues to play on the issue, it will hurt PN’s overall prospects in Penang in the next general election.
Azmil said Penang PAS’s stance may stem from its fear of appearing to agree with DAP, whose Penang chairman Steven Sim recently urged PAS and PN’s elected representatives in the state to clarify whether they back Kedah’s claim.
“Penang PAS is in a tricky spot, which explains its hesitancy and indecisiveness,” he said.
On Nov 10, Sanusi said Kedah is in the final phase of appointing a legal team to initiate court action over the state’s status and relationship with Penang.
He had said in 2021 that the federal government had been paying RM10,000 annually on Penang’s behalf for decades, before raising the sum to RM10 million in 2018 after the matter was raised at the Conference of Rulers.
He also argued that both territories were leased by the Kedah sultanate to the British in 1791 for 10,000 Spanish dollars.
However, the Penang government maintains that the sultanate effectively ceded the territories after Merdeka.
Historians have also pointed out that no formal lease document exists, suggesting the “lease” narrative may have stemmed from a historical misunderstanding.
