GEORGE TOWN, March 7 — The Penang legislative assembly today approved a motion to demand an apology from Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor who had questioned the state’s sovereignty.

In a unanimous decision, the Penang state lawmakers demanded that Sanusi retract his previous remarks about Penang’s sovereignty and apologise to all Penangites and Malaysians for what they considered to be unneighbourliness as well as an insult of the Federal Constitution.

"The menteri besar Kedah, if he’s not careful with his speech, he could commit an offence under the Sedition Act for causing uneasiness among the people in both states,” Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in the legislative assembly this morning.

The motion was tabled by Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng with 10 backbenchers standing up in a show of support.

Lim said Sanusi’s speech was provocative, laced with extremism and instigation that questioned the sovereignty of Penang.

"We regret the speech by the Kedah menteri besar that was made without provocation towards Penang’s sovereignty and also towards the validity of the Federal Constitution and indirectly towards the absolute authority of the Yang di Pertuan Agong in appointing the Penang Yang di-Pertuan Negeri,” he said.

Lim said Sanusi has the right to claim higher compensation for the land royalty payment from the federal government, but should not provoke any party by questioning Penang’s sovereignty.

The former chief minister stressed that Penang’s sovereignty is not disputed but guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

Lim added that the Penang government will not stand for provocation from the Kedah menteri besar.

Chow, who is also Padang Kota assemblyman, said Sanusi’s remarks was tantamount to questioning the position of the Yang di Pertuan Agong as the custodian of states in Malaysia that do not have sultans or rajas.

"This is a serious legal question that the Kedah menteri besar is invited to support his statement legally in court, which is a more suitable forum for both states to clarify the legal standing of the issue,” he said.

Penaga assemblyman Yusni Mat Piah from PAS sought to defend his party colleague Sanusi, saying the latter was only raising the issue of the annual payment.

He argued that Sanusi’s speech was not provocative and that there was no proof that the Kedah MB had questioned Penang’s sovereignty.

But when Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang called for a vote on the motion and asked if there were any objections, Yusni kept quiet.