KUALA LUMPUR: Ridhuan Tee’s call for the Sultan of Kedah to “reclaim” Penang as part of the Kedah Sultanate, though technically possible, would require resolutions passed in both state assemblies, says Syariah and civil liberties lawyer Nizam Bashir.
“Is it likely for such a resolution to be passed by both houses?
“It would be possible but it would require acts of statesmanship from politicians from both sides of the divide,” Nizam told FMT yesterday.
Nizam was commenting on the call by the controversial academician for the Sultan of Kedah to reclaim Penang in order to save the allegedly oppressed Muslims in the state from the rot caused by the “ultra kiasu” (a term he uses for those against Islam).
“Constitutionally speaking, there is nothing to prevent states from merging with one another. I think this is implicit from Article 2 of the Federal Constitution.
“Broadly speaking, states merging with one another can happen pursuant to that clause,” Nizam said.
Article 2 of the Federal Constitution deals with the admission of new territories into the federation, wherein it is stated that Parliament may by law admit other states to the federation or alter the boundaries of any state.
It also states, however, that a law altering the boundaries of a state shall not be passed “without the consent of that state (expressed by a law made by the legislature of that state) and of the Conference of Rulers.”
Nizam said the “newborn” state would then most likely emerge as a “beacon of development and prosperity” for the northern parts of Malaysia.
Nizam, however, rejected what he called Tee’s vision of a “partisan Malaysia and a divisive Islam.”
“Malaysia is for everyone. It goes without saying that His Royal Highness is a Sultan for all Malaysians.
“Consequently, his actions will take that fact into account when deliberating this issue,” he said.