Zairil said should Penang become FT, there would be no state legislature, no chief minister and all powers would be given to a mayor.
“It is a backdoor way to wrest control over Penang, because once it is a FT, there will be no longer a state assembly, let alone a state government.
“The mayor would be a federal government appointee. The mayor will be all powerful under the orders of the FT minister,” the Bukit Bendera MP told FMT.
Recently, Tengku Adnan suggested to bring Penang, Langkawi Island and parts of Malacca under Putrajaya’s control. He was reported to have said this in an interview on the business radio station BFM89.9 yesterday.
Currently, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan are under the direct control of the FT ministry.
“I would like to expand the Federal Territories. If I can, I would take Langkawi, Penang, and certain parts of Malacca,” he was quoted as saying in the interview.
Tengku Adnan said it was highly likely the states would accept the induction, as they would have “more attention and more money poured into the territory”.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Assoc Prof Kartini Aboo Talib@Khalid also agreed that all powers would be bestowed on a mayor if Penang becomes FT.
“Gerrymandering can be done in Penang for BN to gain back the state but again, even with changing the boundaries, the true fight is the voters’ vote to elect.
“A simple majority means voters are still the main players in the election,” the academician with UKM’s Institute of Ethnic Studies said when contacted.
Kartini said Adnan’s suggestion was a populist approach, but not a practical one.
She said in order for Penang to be turned into a FT, it would require two-thirds support in the Dewan Rakyat, the state’s approval and also the okay from the Conference of Rulers.
“Penang is the second most developed state and its income is high. There is no reason for Penang to be a federal territory.
“Thus, Adnan was expressing his ambition only. The map for such ambition will be a long and winding one and will be filled with struggles and objections,” Kartini said.