PETALING JAYA: The Kedah government has commissioned a study on the relationship between Kedah and Penang, with results to be presented next month, says Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor
The Kedah Mentri Besar said although this involves a high expense, the state was willing to continue the effort to correct any historical narrative that had been distorted.
"The study will provide justification after examining various aspects and facts.
"It is not merely to enable claims to be made over Penang, but to prove Kedah's right over Penang.
"It will also resolve problems related to Sungai Muda water payments, border issues, lease payments, the true value of Penang that should be paid to Kedah, all of that will be tried to be resolved," he said.
He said the research team of legal experts and historians had examined more than 20,000 documents from several countries including the British Library, Sinar Harian reported.
"The team will also give opinions from the legal perspective, the constitution and so on.
"We will consider the most appropriate proposal and only then decide what should be done," he told reporters after the Kedah State Assembly sitting on Thursday (Nov 28).
Muhammad Sanusi justified the move, saying that the lease paid by Penang to Kedah was RM10,000 before it was increased to two payment entities in 2018, namely Penang's special payment of RM10mil and RM10,000.
"What Kedah did was not wrong. The state government has the responsibility to refer to documents and the extent of the bond," he said.
Earlier on Thursday (Nov 28), Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow challenged Muhammad Sanusi to take his claims that Penang belongs to Kedah to court.
In his winding-up speech at the Penang State Assembly, Chow said that the Kedah Mentri Besar's assertions contained elements of incitement and disrespect.
