Ku Nan: Don't politicise proposal for federal territories to include Penang

KUALA LUMPUR: Do not politicise the proposal for Penang to be made a federal territory, said Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.  

The Federal Territories Minister said his suggestion was to help people, regardless of race, especially the urban poor. 

According to him, the move will benefit the rakyat, particularly on issues relating to affordable housing and education.  

“We want to help the people. We will walk the talk,” he said this to StarMetro on Monday.  

Commenting on a police report lodged by Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh against him, Tengku Adnan said he had already spoken to the police.  

Earlier Monday, Ramkarpal, accompanied by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, had called on Tengku Adnan to explain his "Malays neglected in Penang" remark to the police.  

"Let them report. If I am asked by the police, I will answer," he said.  

On Feb 1, Tengku Adnan announced his desire to expand the federal territories to include Penang, Langkawi and parts of Malacca in an interview with a radio station in conjunction with Federal Territories Day.  

An online news portal later quoted him as saying that the idea to make Penang a federal territory is to ensure equal development in the northern state.  

He reportedly claimed that the state government did not care about the Malays.  

Currently, the federal territories comprise Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.