THE Kedah government has completed all historical documents, studies and legal bases related to the Penang lease payment review claim and is now just waiting for the right time to move to the next phase.
Kedah Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, said all preparations related to the claim had been completed by the state research and legal team after going through a comprehensive study process.
According to him, the results of the study were also presented to the State Executive Council and received approval to be used as the basis for the claim.
"I am satisfied with what has been prepared by our research and legal team. The matter has also been presented to the Exco-Exco, and they are also satisfied.
"All the documents are ready, we are just considering the most appropriate time to submit them," he said in a podcast broadcast reported by Sinar Harian.
On July 5, the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, said that the Federal government should review the Penang lease payment rate according to the current rate based on the spirit and original intent of the agreement.
He said that the lease payment currently received by the Kedah government was far lower than its due value and that the rights and sovereignty of Kedah, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, must be respected by all parties.
Muhammad Sanusi said that the state government needs to take into account the current situation before submitting the documents to ensure that the process can be carried out in a more conducive environment.
However, he refused to reveal the entire strategy that will be used, as it involves legal aspects.
"We have to think about whether the time is right or we should wait a little longer. If we do it now, we know that there will be parties that will defend their respective positions.
"We want this process to take place in a more neutral environment so that all findings and arguments can be assessed fairly. Several methods will be used, but I cannot reveal them all now," he said.
He said that among the channels being considered were action through the courts, taking the matter to the Conference of Rulers and negotiations with the Federal government.
Commenting on the claim that the state government only wanted to obtain additional payments from the Federal government, Muhammad Sanusi stressed that the perception was incorrect.
According to him, the effort was not aimed at obtaining free money, but rather to ensure that the lease payment rate was reviewed according to its appropriate value after it had not been reviewed since 1786.
"This is not about free money. We are only demanding Kedah's rights. If the right is recognised, pay according to the appropriate rate as ordered by the Sultan of Kedah," he said.
He said that the efforts being carried out by the state government also provide an opportunity for the people to re-understand the history of Kedah's relationship with Penang based on old documents that have been found.
He said that the state government's research team has managed to find various historical documents that are over 200 years old and have previously rarely been brought to the public. – July 29, 2026
