Kedah MB's claim on Penang an incitement, says Zahid

The claim by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor that Penang belongs to Kedah is an act of incitement, says Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the statement also showed that Sanusi had poor knowledge and understanding of history and the constitution as those who understood history would not bring the matter up.

On Monday, Sanusi was reported to have said that Kedah and Penang do not have a border because Penang still belongs to Kedah, and that Kedah only shares a border with Perak and Perlis.

Zahid said that as a state leader, Sanusi should understand the constitution and legislation behind the agreement between the two states, adding that some agreements had been signed between the states during the era of colonialism.

"We reject colonialism (but) it was the agreement that was translated into the Cobbold Commission for the formation of (Federation) of Malaya," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

In the meantime, he said the government should be given time to prove its performance in governing the country, and that it was unfair to assess the performance of the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim within only seven months.

"Everyone should know that the effects of the announcements and funds provided through the tabling of Budget 2023, for example, will only be seen when the implementation is fully carried out," he added.