ALOR STAR – The war of words between Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Lim Guan Eng continued into its third day following controversial remarks from the PAS leader that Penang belongs to Kedah.
The Kedah menteri besar, when approached by journalists at an event in the state, retorted that he does not care if police reports are lodged against him, and that police are welcome to investigate.
He had earlier told journalists here that Penang belongs to Kedah on the grounds that its lease to Penang founder Francis Light was allegedly not genuine and the Kedah Sultanate was deceived by the British explorer.
“I have my valid arguments. It is they (DAP) who do not have anything. That is why they are resorting to this,” said Sanusi.
“See them in court,” he added to another question on the controversy.
Meanwhile in Penang, Lim in a statement urged the state’s voters to teach Sanusi’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition a lesson for trying to undermine the state’s sovereignty.
“Sanusi is trying to gain mileage from this so he can win Kedah in the coming state elections. I think the 1.8 million population in Penang should teach PN a lesson for trying to wipe the state out of the country’s map,” said Lim, a former Penang chief minister.
Addressing Sanusi’s call for the federal constitution to be amended to show that Kedah owns Penang, Lim said that if Penang could be wiped out, there would be nothing to stop racists and extremists from destroying civil rights and freedom in the country.
Sanusi was also insincere by wrongly stating that Penang had paid ex gratia compensation on the lease agreement to Kedah, said Lim.
It was the federal government that decided a few years ago to grant an RM10-million annual payment as compensation to Kedah since Penang had previously belonged to the state. – The Vibes, June 2, 2023