KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has said that Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s claims on ownership of Penang posed a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the state.

The former Penang chief minister said that Sanusi is not only upsetting and insulting locals on the island, but is willing to exploit public sentiment by disregarding the principles of peace and harmony that are crucial for the well-being of the nation in pursuit of victory in the upcoming state elections.

“Muhammad Sanusi's statement has not only upset and insulted the people of Penang, but he also challenged the sovereignty of Penang, threatened the unity of the country, and even disrespected the Federal Constitution.

“For the sake of state elections, he is willing to incite public sentiment. He is not a figure who loves peace and harmony in this country and is a very dangerous leader for the country,” he wrote in a Facebook post yesterday.

He said that Kedah menteri besar’s conscious decision to make such a statement implies that PAS, the Islamist political party he represents, seeks to bring Penang under the control of Kedah.

“With such a stance, why does PAS still want to compete in Penang, and how can PAS represent the people of Penang?" Lim asked.

“We also want to know if PAS assemblymen in Penang and Perikatan Nasional (PN) allies, Bersatu and Gerakan will stand up to defend the sovereignty of Penang and the rights of the people of Penang, oppose Muhammad Sanusi's statement, and ask him to apologise to the people of Penang."

He added that there are facts to prove that the statement of Sanusi can affect national unity and even violate the Federal Constitution.

“The Jalur Gemilang flag and the National Coat of Arms of Malaysia recognise Penang as one of the 13 states in the country.

“In addition, Penang and Kedah have a state enactment that defines the state border along Sungai Muda, confirming Penang's rights to a portion of the river. And there is also a boundary marker stone in Pinang Tunggal which aims to divide the area between Kedah and Penang,” he said.

He said he hopes that the people of Penang will see the true intentions of PN leaders.

“This is an action to prevent the people from focusing on the failure of state leaders, especially the water issue. I also believe that the people of Penang have sharp eyes and will surely protect Penang from the power greed of the PN leaders,” he said.

On May 30, Sanusi claimed that Penang is under the ownership of Kedah while Perak and Perlis are the only states that have a border with Kedah.

He also said that he is awaiting confirmation from the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia regarding Kedah's border with other states.

He made this claim after signing a land and maritime boundary agreement between Kedah and Perlis, which covers 44.3 kilometres of land and 5.6 kilometres of maritime boundary, equivalent to three nautical miles. - malaymail