A half-truth is an absolute lie, says Anwar about Penang-Kedah tiff

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, speaking on controversial claims about Penang belonging to Kedah, said a little knowledge is dangerous.

GEORGE TOWN: The country’s leaders must be well-read and speak with knowledge when making statements on any issue, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today, when asked to comment on claims that Penang belongs to Kedah.

Anwar said a little knowledge is dangerous and a half-truth is an absolute lie.

“There must be a reading culture if we look at the discussion about Kedah taking over Penang. We have history books,” he said at a town hall gathering with students of Universiti Sains Malaysia here today.

The prime minister said the changes that had taken place in the time leading up to the formation of the Federation of Malaya had been written down in history and should be respected.

He said although what is now Penang was originally part of Kedah, there had been changes in time.

“Is it true that Penang belongs to Kedah? Yes, that was long ago. Were there changes? Yes. Who signed it? Sultan of Kedah. When? In 1948, and the latest in 1957. For what reason? To state that every state including Kedah, Penang and Kelantan and others have become part of the Federation of Malaya,” he said.

Anwar said reading history books was the best way to learn and have an understanding of the history of the Siamese Kingdom, the Bruneian Sultanate in Sarawak, and the Sulu Sultanate in Sabah.

“So, read up. If you want to be a leader, it’s even more challenging … Don’t play petty politics, use knowledge to help the people,” he said.

Anwar’s remarks came in the wake of controversy over the history of Penang, renewed when Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said on May 29 that Kedah and Penang do not have a border because Penang still belongs to Kedah. He claimed that Kedah shares a border only with Perak and Perlis. - FMT