KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — DAP’s Lim Guan Eng has likened Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor questioning the sovereignty of Penang as a serious transgression of the Federal Constitution and the powers conferred under its authority.

In a statement this afternoon, Lim said Muhammad Sanusi’s counterparts from PAS remained unrepentant by the latter’s remark and added that such a move is an open contempt and challenge to the authority and legitimacy of the Federal Constitution.

Lim was referring to a speech Sanusi reportedly made at a recent youth event in Alor Setar, in which the menteri besar said he doubted Penang’s sovereignty as the state was "leased from Kedah” and wanted higher lease payments from Putrajaya.

"Sanusi can seek higher lease payments from Putrajaya but he should not be so extreme and irresponsible as to make his demands at the expense of doubting the sovereignty of Penang and by extension questioning the legitimacy of the Federal Constitution.

"For those who fail to grasp the gravity or comprehend the severity of doubting the sovereignty of Penang, is akin to questioning the citizenship of an individual Malaysian.

"Questioning the sovereignty of Penang is no different from questioning the right of Penang to exist, function and operate as a democratic state granted under the powers of the Federal Constitution,” he said.

The Bagan MP further asked Sanusi to first explain why he never made such demands for higher lease payments from Putrajaya when Perikatan Nasional — of which PAS is a component party — was in power from 2020 to 2022.

He said it would seem that PAS leaders were now so bold and confident of their electoral successes from the "green wave” that they could even challenge the fundamental basis of the Federal Constitution.

He also said Jelutong MP RSN Rayer has lodged a police report against Sanusi for the latter’s remark, further noting that legal action will be taken against Sanusi for the inflammatory speech.