PENANG, December 16 – The Penang State Government will conserve and protect a boundary marker stone in Pinang Tunggal, Seberang Perai, as a valuable relic. This stone is not known to many people. Nevertheless, its existence serves as a reminder of the events that led to the formation of Malaysia as a nation and Penang as one of its component states. Penang Chief Minister YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow and H.E. Mr. Raschada Jiwalai, Consul General of the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Penang visited Pinang Tunggal to view the stone yesterday.
They were accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister 1, Dato’ Ir. Hj. Ahmad Zakiyuddin bin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Minister II, Prof. Dr. P. Ramasamy, Seberang Perai City Council Mayor, Datuk Rozali Mohamud and PBA Holdings Bhd and PBAPP CEO, Dato’ Ir. Jaseni Maidinsa. The inscription on the stone reads: “British and Siamese boundary” in English, Thai and Jawi. It is believed to have been set up by the British in 1869, following a treaty “respecting Kedah between Great Britain and Siam.”*
At that time, Penang was known as a British “Straits Settlement” while Kedah was under the influence of the Kingdom of Siam. Besides defining a historical boundary, the stone may be regarded as an important marker in the histories of Penang and Malaysia. The following is a summarised chronology of events, after 1869**:
- 3.1909: The Kingdom of Siam signed the “1909 Anglo-Siamese Treaty” with Great Britain in Bangkok, transferring to the British Government “all rights of suzerainty***, protection, administration and control whatsoever which they possess over the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, and adjacent islands.”
Fundamentally, the 1909 treaty established the modern Malaysia-Thailand border.
- 2.1948: The Federation of Malaya was formed, with 9 Malay states and 2 British Straits Settlements (Penang and Malacca), all mentioned individually.
- 8.1957: The Federation of Malaya gained independence from the British Government.
- 9.1963: Independent Malaya united with the then British Crown Colonies of North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore to become “Malaysia”.
- 8.1965: Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign state****.
Article 1.2 in Part 1 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia***** states the following: “The States of the Federation shall be Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu.” Clearly, Penang’s status as a standalone state in Malaysia is not only enshrined in the Federal Constitution; it has been set in stone since 1869 near Sungai Muda in Pinang Tunggal. With this in mind, the 1869 boundary marker stone will be conserved and protected to remind all Penangites about the reality and facts behind the history of their home state.
