Kedah may delay Penang lease claim documents till change of federal government

Kedah authorities are contemplating delaying the submission of documents related to their claim for a review of Penang's lease payment, pending a potential change in the federal government, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. The state government has already finalized the necessary paperwork for the claim but is deliberating on the optimal timing for submission.

Sanusi made this statement during a Kedah state assembly sitting, responding to a query from Ayer Hitam assemblyman Azhar Ibrahim regarding Kedah's planned next steps following continued federal government rejection of their demand.

Kedah has been raising this issue for six years, despite receiving no satisfactory response from Putrajaya. Sanusi emphasized that the claim rests on historical documents, records, and legal arguments supporting Kedah's position. He criticized Penang's reaction to the matter, suggesting it was more vehement than necessary, possibly due to discomfort with the discussion of their own state's rights.

Sanusi stressed that legal claims should be evaluated based on the law, not political considerations, and pointed out that the law may not always be in favor of individuals.

This issue was previously discussed during PN's three-year tenure in the federal government, including with the then-prime minister, but no formal submission was made due to the lack of complete documentation at the time. The final report on the claim was presented to Kedah's executive council, state assemblymen, and relevant MPs on April 15, 2025, following which a legal team was appointed to explore potential legal actions.

Kedah is prepared to pursue the matter through lawful avenues, including negotiations, court action, and engaging with Malay rulers' institutions. Sanusi urged the federal government to consider the Sultan of Kedah's views and the state's request for a review of the payment based on current values.