THE Kedah state government has indicated that it expects to initiate legal proceedings over its claim to Penang and Seberang Perai before the end of 2026, following an extensive review of historical documents and legal considerations.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state’s legal team is carefully examining the appropriate legal angles before filing the case in court.
“Before the end of this year, I expect we will bring the case to court. Our team is working, the legal process involves many technical aspects, and while the team is ready, the angle we will take is still under consideration,” he told reporters during a press conference.
He emphasised that the process is deliberate and methodical, reflecting the need to prepare a thorough and well-documented case rather than rushing into confrontation.
“We are doing this step by step. I’m not looking to pick a fight, but to do things in an orderly way. That is why it has taken years to collect and analyse all the necessary documents,” he said.
Sanusi also highlighted the historical context of Kedah’s claim, asserting that Penang, including Seberang Perai, was originally the property of the Kedah Sultanate and was taken unlawfully by British colonial forces beginning 9 August 1786.
He recounted that British trader Francis Light raised the Union Jack on the island, an act he described as a criminal seizure.
Attempts by Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah to reclaim Penang in 1791 were unsuccessful.
A later treaty in 1800 forced Sultan Dhiauddin to cede part of Seberang Perai, renamed Province Wellesley, to the British.
“Initially, the lease value of Penang agreed by Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah was 6,000 Spanish Dollars, which Francis Light did not pay, triggering the 1791 conflict.
When Seberang Perai was obtained, the lease was increased to 10,000 Spanish Dollars, later converted to RM10,000 after independence, and as of 2018, it stands at RM10,010,000,” he explained.
During the same event, which coincided with the Kedah Civil Servants’ Assembly at Dataran Wisma Darul Aman, Sanusi stressed the need for transparency regarding Penang’s lease arrangements and historical ownership, asserting that clarity is essential for all parties involved.
The legal challenge, if launched as anticipated, could reopen a centuries-old dispute over territorial rights in one of Malaysia’s most economically significant regions, potentially setting the stage for a landmark court case on historical land claims. - January 7, 2025
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