ALOR SETAR: The document said to be an agreement between Kedah and Penang that is on display to the public at this time is allegedly not evidence of a lease letter signed with Sultan Abdullah and Francis Light in 1786.

Professor of Social and Intellectual History, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University (UIA), Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican, said the document on display was just a piece of letter discussing matters related to the Penang lease.

He explained that Sultan Abdullah and Francis Light had never signed any agreement or lease letter related to the handover of Penang from Kedah to the British East India Company at that time.

“It was already explained 50 years ago, by Historian, R Bonney in his book Kedah 1771-1821: The Search for Security and Independence ’that there was no lease agreement, but we still use the colonial narrative that Penang was leased from Kedah.

"The agreement document displayed so far is incorrect because it is just a discussion between the Sultan of Kedah and Francis Light only, this matter should be explained to all parties that no valid lease agreement was made between the two," he said at a press conference here today. 

It is understood that the documents said to be the lease agreement from Kedah are on display at the Penang Museum apart from being kept by the National Archives as national heritage.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Kedah Branch of the Malaysian Historical Society (PSMCK), Dr Ibrahim Bakar, urged the state government to hold serious discussions with the Federal Government to reach a new understanding, including taking into account the annual payment rate to Kedah.

He said, his party suggested that the historical narrative related to Penang should be corrected so that all parties understand the true position of the relationship between Kedah and Penang which is much distorted.

"Based on the arguments in the book 'Kedah 1771-1821: The Search for Security and Independence', we find that there is no valid agreement between Kedah and any party regarding the occupation of Penang.

"Based on that argument as well, we take a stand in support of the statement by Kedah Menteri Besar, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor that Penang is the legal property of Kedah until now," he said.

Muhammad Sanusi at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) last Tuesday, reminded that Penang is a state leased by Kedah apart from asking the state not to interfere in matters related to this state.