'I want to reclaim Penang because it rightfully belongs to Kedah' – Sanusi
The research team appointed by the state government to study documents related to the relationship between Kedah and Penang will present their findings next month.
ALOR SETAR - A research team appointed by the state government to study documents related to the historical relationship between Kedah and Penang will present their findings next month.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that the results of the study will serve as a guide for the state government to proceed with further actions, including reassessing a higher lease rate for Penang.
According to him, the research team, consisting of legal experts and historians, has reviewed more than 20,000 related documents from several countries, including the British Library.
“The team will also provide several recommendations from legal, constitutional and other perspectives.
“We will examine the recommendations and determine the most appropriate course of action based on the current situation. Decisions on what should be done will only be made at that time,” he said during a press conference after the state legislative assembly session was adjourned on Thursday.
Sanusi emphasised that although the effort involves significant expenses, the state government was willing to continue pursuing it to correct historical narratives that had been distorted.
“This study will provide justification after being examined from various aspects and factual evidence.
“It is not solely to enable claims to be made over Penang, but to prove Kedah's rights over Penang.
“It will also address issues related to payments for water from the Sungai Muda, border disputes, lease payments and the actual value of Penang that should be paid to Kedah. All of this will be reviewed and resolved,” he said.
He noted that the lease payment for Penang to Kedah was RM10,000, which was later revised in 2018 to two separate payments: a special payment of RM10 million from Penang and the original RM10,000.
“More recently, the Selangor government is also considering reclaiming Kuala Lumpur. Currently, RM70 million is paid to Selangor, even though the area is relatively small.
“What Kedah is doing is not wrong. The state government has a responsibility to review the binding documents and assess how far those agreements remain valid. I must fulfil my responsibility, and that is what I am doing, not opposing the constitution,” he said.
In his winding-up speech earlier, Sanusi emphasised that history cannot be erased and should be corrected if it deviated from the truth.
“I want to reclaim Penang because it is Kedah’s rightful property. Who dares erase that history? That is the fact. We hope that in the future, after presenting indisputable facts, the situation will change,” he said.
In 2021, the Kedah government demanded RM100 million in lease royalties for Penang from the Federal Government, as the payment had not been reviewed since 1786.
