Penang Ownership Debate: What did people say?

As the debate surrounding the ownership of Penang gains momentum, the online public is voicing mixed opinions on this contentious issue. However, there are more people rejecting MB Sanusi’s claim compared to those who support him.

Insight:

  • The conversations on the Penang-Kedah Ownership Status garnered around 10.8K with 331K social interactions that potentially reached 7.3M users.
  • Despite the recent claim by MB Sanusi that Penang belonged to Kedah, the historical agreements and Federal constitution stated otherwise. The 1786 lease of Penang to the British East India Company and the 1800 agreement between Kedah and the British laid the foundation for Penang’s governance. The 1957 Federation of Malaya Agreement and the Federal and State Constitutions further solidify Penang’s status as a separate and sovereign state within Malaysia.
  • The Kedah MB faced heavy criticism, even from some PN supporters, who stated his claim was baseless. People argued that the ownership of Penang land should not be an issue and that he was merely exaggerating the matter to gain political mileage. Netizens also speculated that he was attempting to secure the Penang land to achieve victory in the upcoming electoral campaign.
  • In addition, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to address the issue during the parliamentary session has garnered diverse feedback from the digital realm. Although many agreed with his explanation, a few others felt that the issue should not be prolonged.

Top online conversations on Penang-Kedah ownership status