KEDAH Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has doubled down on his claim that Penang belongs to Kedah.

According to a Free Malaysia Today report, he wanted the Federal Constitution to be amended to support his claim.

Under the Federal Constitution, Penang:

(1) is a state which makes up the states of the Federation of Malaysia as declared by article 1(2);

(2) has a territory of its own, which is accorded recognition by article 1(3);

(3) not only has a state constitution but one that has a provision for conferring on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the position of head of Islam in the state;

(4) has federal guarantee of its state constitution under article 7; and

(5)  has a state legislative assembly whose constitution and privileges are accorded federal protection under article 72 and eighth schedule.

Where do we start with the amendments to the Federal Constitution?

Perhaps we should recall what H.G. Tregonning wrote of the Philippines’ claim to Sabah in 1970:

“The Philippines, one can only hope, fully realises that Malaysia is prepared to defend its territory, and Sabahans their state. Let us… look at the world today. It would be farcical if Malaysia entertain (the Philippines claim).

“It might equally as wisely return Kedah, to Thailand. Johore once ceded Singapore to the British; but then even earlier, Singapore as part of a Sumatran state.

What country in Southeast Asia has territories another could not claim, or boundaries that are the same as a hundred years ago?

“Is it not childish to entertain such ideas? Is it not better to adopt those that were defined and accepted by the rest of the world when the proud independent Southeast Asian states of today entered the United Nations?” (“The Philippine Claim to Sabah” (1970) JMBRAS Vol 3, pp 161-170)

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has called upon Penang folk to lodge police reports against Sanusi for creating public disaffection and attempting to create enmity between the people of Kedah and Penang.

“Police reports should be lodged by 1.8 million Penang people to press for action against Sanusi to protect Penang, and to prevent ‘political interlopers’ from invading our state so that we can continue our lives peacefully and enjoy prosperity,” he said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was reported to have said the state government was prepared to go to court over Sanusi’s claim.

Sanusi must realise that Penang folk, like Sabah people, will defend their state.

Sanusi must also realise that his claim will be followed with keen interest across the South China Sea.

The Philippine claim to Sabah is also said to be based on historical evidence. (See, among others, Philippine Claim to North Borneo, vol. I, Manila, Bureau of Printing (1963); vol. II (1968) and “Selected Documents Relating to the Philippine Claim to North Borneo” (1963) 2 Philippine International Law Journal, pp. 216- 339.)

Food for thought.

As the Malay saying goes, “Jangan menang sorak, kampung tergadai.” – June 1, 2023.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.