Guan Eng blasts Sanusi for using ‘war-like’ terms over Penang dispute

Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has condemned Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for encouraging “violence” amongst Perikatan Nasional supporters by using war terms in the latter’s recent speech.

The Bagan MP expressed concern that Sanusi referred to Penang as Constantinople and the opposition’s supporters as Ottoman Sultan Muhammad al-Fateh - better known as Mehmed the Conqueror - when talking about reclaiming the state.

“I think it is very dangerous to describe the issue he himself brought up in war-like terms, even though later he said ‘Oh no, I’m not talking about using violence’.

“When you use war terms, that is irresponsible. A clear and present danger to the Federal Constitution, the peace of the country, and also to national unity,” Lim (above) said during a press conference in Penang today.

On June 25, Malay daily Harian Metro quoted Sanusi telling his supporters that Penang must be reclaimed like how Muhammad al-Fateh conquered Constantinople from the Byzantine Empire.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor

The menteri besar used this analogy during his speech at the Kedah Berselawat assembly to explain that Penang needed to be reclaimed to “restore Kedah’s glory” so that the people of the state will not be oppressed and looked down upon.

However, he emphasised that Penang should be reclaimed “not through violence, but through commitment and determination”.

Sanusi also likened the dispute to the start of the Conquest of Mecca, highlighting the need for formal negotiations within the legal framework to secure the state’s rights over Penang. - Mkini