PARLIAMENT | Suhaimi Abdullah (PN - Langkawi) has voiced his full support for Kedah's bid against Penang, adding that he believes that the issue should be resolved in court.
Suhaimi (above) said this in response to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's (Harapan - Batu Kawan) remarks in Parliament yesterday, where Chow stated that any party wishing to pursue the matter should take it to court.
“Yesterday, when the Sik (MP) wanted to interject (Chow’s speech), he jokingly said: ‘If you want to talk, talk later; if you want to demand, demand later; if you want a trial, take it to court’.
“If Batu Kawan (Chow) said we should go to court, then I think there is no longer a problem. We’ll just focus on the court. Why is there still a need to discuss?” Suhaimi said while debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's royal decree in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Yesterday, during the debate on Agong’s speech, Chow said Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor’s claims on Penang were baseless and directly contradict the Federal Constitution and the core tenets of Malaysian federalism.
According to Chow, Penang has been recognised as a sovereign state since the independence of the Malayan Federation in 1957, and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 further reinforced its status.
Chow also pointed out that the boundaries between Penang and Kedah were also legally established under the Kedah and Penang (Alteration of Boundary) Act 1985, which was passed in Parliament under Article 2 of the Federal Constitution.
During the Penang chief minister’s speech, Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) attempted to interject but was rejected by Chow due to a lack of time.
Chow then jokingly said that Tarmizi should pose any demands or give a speech later, or bring the issue to court if he wants to go to trial.
‘Kedahans back Sanusi’s stance’
Suhaimi emphasised that the people of Kedah fully support Sanusi’s stance on the matter, describing it as firm and grounded in law.
“We, the people of Kedah, are only upholding the sultan’s decree by taking up this issue in court. His Royal Highness has given his assent,” he claimed.
Suhaimi also urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to give due consideration to the intention of Kedah’s elected representatives to pursue the matter, which he said had been raised directly by the Kedah sultan.
Suhaimi said that if all parties, including Chow and the relevant ministers, agreed to resolve the issue through the courts, then that route should be followed.
“If that is the spirit, then we shall meet in court. God willing, this matter will be resolved,” he said.
In 2021, the Kedah government demanded RM100 million in royalties from the federal government for Penang, as the lease had never been reassessed since 1786.
In January this year, Sanusi reportedly said that the state government was confident that the legal process regarding Kedah’s claim over Penang could begin this year after the analysis of related documents was completed.
Sanusi said his legal team is currently examining the appropriate legal avenues before the case is brought to court. - Mkini
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