KEDAH Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor will likely regret pursuing a legal course to challenge the sovereignty of Penang as a state under the Federation of Malaysia, said a senior lawyer and former PKR leader.
S. Raveentharan, who was a former Batu Uban assemblyman, said that Kedah is challenging the validity of the Federal Constitution by questioning the legitimacy of Penang to exist as a sovereign state.
Only through such arguments can Sanusi lay claim to seeking more compensation from the federal government over the alleged lease of Penang to the then British colonial forces, he said.
While Sanusi is entitled to pursue what he feels are his rights, is such an exercise worthwhile, as it would cost money - taxpayers' money, Raveentharan asked.
"He is opening a can of worms. If historical narrative is to be taken, the world over will be in turmoil. What about Singapore?"
Sanusi should perhaps advise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on how to retake Singapore, which was once part of the Malay Sultanate states.
What about the territorial boundaries that the colonial powers enacted the world over - should such territories be redrawn based on historical anecdotes or perspectives, said the former PKR deputy secretary - general.
According to Raveentharan, the residents of neighbouring Penang and Kedah, are friendly to each other, as both have family and friends living across the boundary.
"In fact, the congestion in Penang is driven by Kedahans commuting between both places as the former caters to many jobs for those residing in Kedah."
Raveentharan said that Sanusi should not use the court as a platform to drive a wedge and polarise the country even further.
"There are many versions of history. At times, it is narrated by the victors, but leaders of today should focus on what they are facing now, not just about what happened centuries ago. Sanusi should focus on developing Kedah and using Penang as a springboard to stimulate growth in his home state."
Meanwhile, former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that Sanusi's bark is worse than his bite.
"All talk, no action. He should practice what he preaches by going straight to the Federal Court as permitted by Article 128. Let the Federal Court rule and decide whether there is any legal basis or just a show (sandiwara) to score cheap political points to distract attention from his failed governance and economic mismanagement of Kedah.
Kedah has indicated that it expects to initiate legal proceedings over its claim to Penang and the Prai mainland before the end of this year.
This follows an extensive review of historical documents and legal considerations, while some local historians have also expressed support for this quest, claimed Sanusi.
Sanusi was reported as saying that 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,” said Sanusi.
Previously, he was quoted as saying that he wants more compensation from the federal side for the alleged illegal seizure of Penang from the Kedah Sultanate, one of the oldest reign monarchy in the region.
Penang, through the federal government, is now paying RM10 million annual honorarium to Kedah based on the historical agreement that colonial trader Francis Light purportedly sealed with the Kedah Sultanate in 1786. - January 8, 2026.
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