GEORGE TOWN: The question on the sovereignty of Penang has led to a heated argument between Pakatan Harapan assemblymen and a lone Opposition member from PAS.
Penaga assemblyman Yusni Mat Piah was taken to task for not defending Penang by Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (PH-Permatang Pasir), who stood up to debate on the issue.
“How could you defend Kedah and not Penang when our state’s sovereignty is challenged?” Muhammad Faiz said.
Yusni is at present the only Oppositon member in the House after the seats of four Bersatu assemblymen were vacated under the state’s anti-hopping law since Monday.
A last-minute motion to censure Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was tabled at the state assembly yesterday by Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih) who said the Mentri Besar had challenged Penang by saying the state is on lease to Kedah.
He also showed a TikTok video showing Muhammad Sanusi making the fiery speech.
Yusni, who defended Muhammad Sanusi, said the people of Kedah backed their Mentri Besar.
“In fact, this issue of Penang being leased to Kedah was brought up by the Sultan of Kedah in the Conference of Rulers recently and therefore, the issue of defending the Mentri Besar does not arise.”
Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (BN-Sungai Dua) said history is different from the present and any provocation from Kedah should be rejected.
“I am a die-hard Penangite and have lived here for the past 60 years, and history should be left in the past as this is a sovereign state,” he added.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Muhammad Sanusi’s remark could be seditious in nature.
“If you ask me, it is much ado about nothing, but since it was brought to the House, a stand should be taken on the issue.
“I have told the Mentri Besar that if he has any grouses, he should take us to court, including issues on water, but he never did,” he said.
The motion was later passed unanimously after Lim wound up the debate.
The yearly payment paid by Penang to Kedah, now an honorarium, was RM10,000, but in 2018, Putrajaya had raised it to RM10mil.
Chow also said that the constituencies of the four assemblymen who vacated their seats would be “adopted” by other assemblymen, although he did not give any details.
Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang told the House that Muhamad Yusoff will remain the Opposition leader as the state assembly will be dissolved in the next few months.
The House also approved a motion to nominate two individuals as senators.
Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam, 36, who is the Sungai Bakap Hospital director, was named to replace Lim Hui Ying, who is now the Tanjong MP and Deputy Education Minister.
Amir Md Ghazali, 50, a former six-term councillor and Nurul Izzah Anwar’s political secretary, is to replace Nibong Tebal MP Fadhlina Sidek who is Education Minister.
The house adjourned sine die.
