Chow called the PAS leader’s claim “seditious” and said it disrespects Penang’s sovereignty under the Federal Constitution.

Earlier today, Sanusi said his state government would review the present RM10 million “lease” Penang was paying to Kedah following a backbencher’s request for at least RM100 million to be paid.

Chow urged Sanusi to honour the Federal Constitution and refrain from making such remarks, which he has been doing since he became menteri besar in 2020. He also suggested that Kedah explore legal avenues if it intends to pursue the matter further.

“The menteri besar’s claim in the Kedah state assembly today is both provocative and disrespectful,” he told the state assembly in his winding-up speech on the 2025 state budget.

“On behalf of the government and people of Penang, I want to stress that Penang is a sovereign state under the Federal Constitution.

“I have said this many times, if (Sanusi) wants to make such claims, take it to court. There’s no need to waste time repeating these baseless statements outside the legal process.”

Chow also called on all assembly members, including those from Perikatan Nasional, to stand united on the issue.

Earlier, he started his address by naming all the states in the Federal Constitution to prove his point that Penang is a sovereign state.

According to historical accounts, the Kedah sultanate leased Penang island and Province Wellesley (now Seberang Perai) to the British in 1791 for 10,000 Spanish dollars.

Over time, the East India Company obtained the land from the Sultan of Kedah in exchange for military protection and an annual payment in perpetuity.

After Merdeka, the federal government began paying an annual honorarium of RM10,000, which was increased to RM10 million in 2018 by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Sanusi previously said he regarded the honorarium as a “lease payment” and had asked that it be raised to RM100 million a year since Penang was “doing well”.