GEORGE TOWN: Penang will wait for Kedah to formally submit its proposed claim over the state's annual lease payment before responding, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow said Penang maintains the same position each time the issue arises and will only comment once details of the claim are officially presented.
"I don't think this is the first time we have answered this," Chow told reporters during a press conference in Komtar on Wednesday (July 29). "Our response remains the same: we are waiting."
Asked whether the proposed claim could strain relations between the neighbouring states or run against the spirit of national unity, Chow said it was premature to speculate.
"In the first place, we don't even know what the claim is," Chow said.
"For me, it is premature to comment."
"We will wait and see what they intend to claim, and will respond after it is submitted either to the court or to the Penang state government," he added.
Earlier, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said Kedah had completed legal preparations and gathered historical documents to pursue a review of Penang's annual lease payment.
Sanusi said Kedah is seeking RM300mil annually from the Federal Government and is considering several avenues, including legal action, referring the matter to the Conference of Rulers, or direct negotiations with Putrajaya.
Sanusi claimed historical British records show Britain did not legitimately own Penang before transferring it, arguing that Article 167 of the Federal Constitution supports Kedah's position on pre-independence obligations.
The annual grant started at RM10,000 before being raised to RM10mil during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Pakatan Harapan administration.
The payment has not been reviewed since, despite nearly 70 years passing since Merdeka.
