Penang a sovereign state under the Federal Constitution, says Ramkarpal
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said that Penang’s sovereignty and legitimacy as a state within the Federation of Malaysia was indisputable.
“Based on the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957, the Federation of Malaya was formed in the same year where it is clear that Penang is part of the Federation of Malaya and as a separate state from Kedah.
“In this regard, the statement made by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is completely unfounded,” said Ramkarpal.
Yesterday, Muhammad Sanusi continued to insist that Penang belonged to Kedah.
Ramkarpal, who is also the Bukit Gelugor MP, said the Federation of Malaya was formed based on the Federal Constitution in 1957, reminding Muhammad Sanusi that the Federal Constitution is the highest law of the country and should be respected by all.
“It cannot be denied that Penang has already been recognised as one of the states under the Federation of Malaya, that is enshrined under Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
“Furthermore, Article 71(1) of the Federal Constitution, read together with the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, also guarantees that each state has its own state constitution that provides for its own state government, including the state of Penang,” he said.
Ramkarpal added that there were also other provisions under the Federal Constitution that defined Penang as a sovereign entity.
He also said that since the formation of the Federation of Malaya and the Federation of Malaysia later, there has never been any objection raised by any parties over Penang’s separate statehood.
Penang’s modern history was shaped during the British colonial era, beginning with the acquisition of Penang Island from the Kedah Sultan by the British East India Company in 1786.
Penang was then developed into a free port, and the city state was subsequently governed as part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Malacca.
During that time, Penang’a state capital George Town, briefly became the capital of the Straits Settlement between 1826 and 1832.
By the end of the 19th Century, George Town prospered and became one of the major trading ports in South-east Asia.
In 2021, Muhammad Sanusi triggered his unhappiness with the Penang state government that continued today.
It started after he insisted on raw water supply charge to be imposed on Penang, even if the matter is brought to the federal government to be solved.
Muhammad Sanusi later accused Penang of refusing to pay for the water supply it draws from Sungai Muda and that Kedah had lost out on logging revenue by not allowing logging in the Ulu Muda area to protect the water catchment area.
