A SENIOR state executive councillor has urged the Kedah Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor, to respect the Federal Constitution and to stop the persistent debate over Kedah's alleged ownership of Penang.
Wong Hon Wai said the purported Kedah ownership over Penang remains contentious and polemic because the Federal Constitution recognises them as two separate states under the constitution enacted in 1957 and updated in 1963 with the entry of Sarawak and Sabah to form Malaysia.
In Penang's defence, there is also a border demarcation stone along Kepala Batas in the Siamese language, which recognises the area as part of Penang, and not Kedah, said Wong, a veteran Penang DAP leader.
The Siamese border demarcation indicates that the entire northern region of the country was at one time in history under the influence of the Siamese Kingdom.
"If we go further down the historical lines, there are also anecdotes to indicate that the same territories may also be under the influence of India/ Hindu Empires, as what is illustrated by the Bujang Valley and Kedah Tua archaeological sites."
For that matter, the sizable area of the Asean region, especially Indonesia, is also said to be under the influence of the Hindu Empire during the same period, he said.
"So, if we go down the historical chain, there is no end to the claims and counterclaims. We do not need this in the modern age," added Wong.
He said the focus should be on development and prospering together so wars and famine can no longer harm civilisation, including in both states.
He said that Sanusi may have political intentions to galvanise his constituents to despise Penang, but every Malaysian should respect the Constitution and use it as a guide as part of good citizenry.
"We are all part of Malaysia, and we should work together for the sake of all Malaysians. If one prospers, so can the other," Wong asserted.
He said that both Kedah and Penang stand to benefit more by working together on the industrialisation pace and the sharing of water resources, as due to the riparian rights of Sungai Muda, both states have rights to extract water from Sungai Muda.
"We have a situation of Penangites living in Kedah but working in Penang, and the other way around. We are interdependent, so it is best to work together economically. We may have political differences, but let us not harm the average worker, who is dependent on both states prospering together." – June 27, 2026
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