Check your facts about Penang, PKR man tells Kedah MB

 

A 19th century painting of George Town and Penang harbour. The British took possession of the island in 1786 and named it Prince of Wales Island. (Penang Museum pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: An MP from Kedah has urged menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to check his facts first before demanding RM100 million a year as payment for a so-called “lease” of Penang island and Seberang Perai.

Saifuddin Nasution Ismail of PKR said the issue was about the Kedah state government’s need for revenue. The state should seek federal compensation for preserving a forest reserve instead of arguing about the Penang payment, he said.

He said that, according to a historian, there was no proof of any “lease arrangement” between Capt Francis Light and the Sultan of Kedah in 1776 as claimed by the menteri besar.

“So, the issue of lease payments does not arise,” said Saifuddin, who is MP for Kulim-Bandar Baharu, in the Dewan Rakyat.

Yesterday, professor Ahmad Murad Merican of International Islamic University Malaysia, told FMT that talk of a lease agreement was a myth.

“Don’t tell me the menteri besar cannot check on this,” said Saifuddin, a former assemblyman in Kedah.

He said the real issue was that the state government wanted a new revenue source.

He suggested that the state seek federal compensation for loss of logging revenue by preserving a forest reserve in Ulu Muda, close to the Muda river, the main source of raw water for Kedah, Penang and Perlis.

Saifuddin said that Sanusi, in making his demand for the RM100 million yearly “lease” payment, had threatened to cut off water supply to Penang. - FMT