Chow dismisses Sanusi’s push for Penang ‘lease’ review

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government has yet to ascertain what Kedah has been seeking since menteri besar Sanusi Nor began pushing for a lease review in 2021.GEORGE TOWN: Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has dismissed Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor's continuous push for a review of Penang’s annual "lease" payment.Chow said Penang has yet to ascertain what Kedah has been seeking since Sanusi began pushing for a review of the lease in 2021."Therefore, we will wait for the demand and respond once it reaches the courts or the state government," he said at the weekly press conference at his office in Komtar here today.Sanusi was reported as saying earlier today that Kedah had finalised the legal grounds and historical documentation to push for a review of Penang’s annual "lease" payment, aiming to secure RM300 million annually from the federal government.He said the Kedah government is preparing to take the matter to court, refer it to the Conference of Rulers, or initiate formal negotiations with Putrajaya. However, he also said Kedah is waiting for a "more neutral situation" before acting, fearing that Putrajaya would dismiss the findings outright to defend Penang's status in the federation.Chow has repeatedly said Penang is ready to go to court to defend itself over Sanusi's demands, as the issue concerns the state's sovereignty, which the Federal Constitution guarantees.The federal government has been paying Kedah RM10 million in annual payments since 2018 on Penang's behalf. The annual payment is stipulated in the Federal Constitution.Some historians previously pointed out that no formal lease document exists, suggesting the “lease” narrative may have stemmed from a historical misunderstanding.PDC, German lab firm sign lease agreementEarlier, Chow witnessed the signing of a lease agreement between Germany-based lab equipment manufacturer Eppendorf Group and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to establish a manufacturing facility at Bandar Cassia Technology Park in Batu Kawan, one of the tech parks developed by PDC.Eppendorf plans to manufacture selected products at the 1.6ha site, including centrifuges, mixers and cyclers.

These products will support laboratories around the world in research, diagnostics, development, production and quality assurance.The company's CEO, Christine Munz, said Penang was chosen to host the plant du…