The statement by Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor that the idea to make Penang a federal territory was to help the Malays is absurd and clearly an afterthought in response to the outrage his initial statement had caused on the matter.
Tengku Adnan was reported to have also said, “We know what is happening in Penang. They (the state government) do not care about the Malays” (FMT, 4.2.2017) as the reason for proposing Penang be turned into a federal territory. It is pertinent to note that nowhere in his interview with BFM Radio on the ‘Breakfast Grill’, during which he raised the issue for the first time, did he cite such reason behind the idea.
The allegation that the Penang state government has been neglecting the Malays is a most serious one and if there was an iota of truth in this allegation, then surely Tengku Adnan would have cited it as the main reason for turning Penang into a federal territory during the said show itself and not days later making it clear that same is utterly baseless.
As I have said before, there is absolutely no reason to turn Penang into a federal territory and I am certain that most Penangites would be completely against the idea. In the circumstances, I challenge Tengku Adnan to initiate a referendum among Penangites for the purpose which I know would, undoubtedly, result in an overwhelming vote against the said proposal.
The Chief Minister of Penang has said that the state government would vehemently resist any move to make Penang a federal territory and I am in complete agreement with his said stance. If Tengku Adnan persists with the said proposal, rest assured the state government will tirelessly exhaust all avenues in opposing the same.