GEORGE TOWN – Two Penang DAP leaders told Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to focus on the present and future of his state instead of dwelling on the past, as the debate rages on over the historical accounts of both neighbouring states.
Sanusi sparked a furore in Penang when he made a contentious remark during the recent Kedah state assembly sitting, saying that the state’s neighbour was a “leased state” and that its inhabitants should not be overly critical of Kedah.
The Kedah branch of the Malaysian Historical Society then proposed to the federal government a correction of the historical account of Penang, saying that no treaty was signed between the Kedah Sultanate in 1786 and the island’s founder Sir Francis Light for the alleged handover of the island and subsequent surrender of Province Wellesley (Seberang Prai) to the British.
However, Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari and Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid said that Sanusi is not doing any good by focusing on the past instead of present challenges.
Zairil said in a WhatsApp response to the issue that there is nothing to be gained by trying to be revisionist and questioning the past.
“The fact is that if you want to look at history, it can go back really far. They call themselves a historical society, but why should their history stop at 1786?
“Why not go further back? Should we continue to pay tithes to Siam? How about further back? Kedah used to be a Hindu country, and Buddhist before that. How far do we want to go? Should we change our ways now based on the past?” Zairil asked.
Giving her two cents, Syerleena said that Sanusi should focus on important issues right now, like providing economic opportunities to families and individuals deeply affected by the pandemic.
She said that the issue of whether or not Penang was leased sounded “like a broken record”, looking at how “certain factions” are unable to offer any “substantial socio-political reforms”.
Meanwhile, author Marcus Langdon said that as far as he could recollect, a treaty was indeed signed in 1791 between Kedah and Light after the latter attacked an invasion force assembled by Kedah to retake the island from Light’s colonial forces.
Langdon said that debate would likely ensue in view of a convoluted sense of historical accounts concerning both Penang and Kedah – The Vibes, September 25, 2021
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