GEORGE TOWN, December 2 — Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai, has strongly criticised a recent proposal by Prof Datuk Ahmad Murad Merican of ISTAC-IIUM, who suggested that Penang be restructured as a “Special Territory of Kedah,” similar to Hong Kong’s status under China.
Wong said the idea, raised during a forum at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is shocking and undermines the core foundation of the Malaysian Federation and the Federal Constitution. He stressed that Penang and Kedah are both sovereign states under Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
Which has long settled their relationship within Malaysia’s nationhood framework. Wong added that the academic’s stance appears aligned with the Kedah Menteri Besar, noting that both positions disregard the historical and constitutional basis of Malaysia’s formation.
He emphasised that the Federal Constitution is the bedrock of the Malaysian nation-state and that any proposal attempting to alter established state sovereignty challenges the integrity of the Federation itself.
