GEORGE TOWN – Residents in Kedah and Penang are mature enough to know the difference between political innuendos and facts.
Hence, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy is confident there will not be any emotional spillover from the litany of contentious statements released by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor that Penang is “leased” from Kedah.
It has however prompted International Islamic University Malaysia academic Prof Datuk Ahmad Murad Merican and the Kedah chapter of the Malaysian Historical Society to seek the federal government’s intervention to correct the alleged history that Penang was leased from Kedah.
According to them, Kedah never leased the state to the forces behind Penang founder Sir Francis Light, alleging that no treaty was signed and that the Kedah Sultanate was misled by Light as the latter had only promised temporary occupation of the island.
To this, Ramasamy told The Vibes that both states can continue to be good neighbours if they are not duped into believing the political agenda of Sanusi, who is Kedah PAS commissioner and Jeneri assemblyman.
There were conflicts and controversies between the two states in the past over the issue of water supply from a shared boundary of Sg Muda, and the situation worsened after Sanusi was sworn in as the 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah.
The Ulu Muda catchment area for Sg Muda and the logging there, as well as the proposed Kulim airport, have also become controversies that have widened the rift between both state governments.
Recently, it is the historical nature of both states that has come into question.
However, Ramasamy believes that the people of Penang and Kedah will continue to foster mutual friendliness and unity.
“Sanusi is trying to become a hero by raising contentious issues,” Ramasamy said, adding that Sanusi will continue to speak and issue controversial statements against Penang if he enjoys support for it in the political arena.
“Sanusi’s acts are absolute politics, and it will continue as long as there are people to support him as it is part and parcel of politics. It is also political envy and competitive nature to face the rapid growth of a neighbouring state,” he said.
Sanusi, during the Kedah assembly last week, said that he understood Penang’s concerns over several major projects announced by Kedah, which are thought to compete with Penang’s economically.
However, he said it should be remembered that Penang was leased, and it should not interfere or criticise the administration of Kedah.
“Penang is not a state that exists by itself. According to the history of the country, Penang is a state leased from Kedah. If we lease someone’s land and then we become angry with the landlord we lease it from, that is not appropriate,” Sanusi was quoted as saying. – The Vibes, September 27, 2021
