KUALA LUMPUR – Former DAP vice-president Teresa Kok has faced backlash following her suggestion that the federal government take over the administration of Langkawi, a proposal that has sparked strong criticism from Kedah Umno.
Speaking during a parliamentary session yesterday, Kok argued that the Kedah PAS-led state government had failed to properly manage the island resort, hindering its development despite the increase in tourism arrivals, as reported by the state.
Kok proposed that Langkawi be made a federal territory in the northern region to facilitate its rapid development. She also suggested that the island could be transformed into an international zone to boost tourism.
However, Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid was quick to condemn the suggestion, stating that Kok should have refrained from discussing such a sensitive matter. He emphasised that Langkawi is part of Kedah, which is under the rule of the Sultan of Kedah.
“Kok is being insensitive. She should not have made such a suggestion, which could offend the sensitivities of the Kedah Royal Household. Langkawi belongs to Kedah, and the state is under the leadership of the Sultan of Kedah,” Mahadzir said in a statement. “To make such a suggestion, especially with reference to the Sultan, is an insult to the state. She should apologise to both the Sultan and the people of Kedah.”
Mahadzir, who is also a former Kedah Mentri Besar, added that Kok should not have raised the issue in Parliament. He noted that Kok had discussed Langkawi’s tourism status and its recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Despite the island’s relatively small size, Kok claimed the state government had failed to foster significant development. Langkawi, which consists of the main island and 99 smaller islands, continues to face challenges in meeting tourism expectations, with some private investors opting to pull out.
In response, Mahadzir stated that Kok’s remarks were inappropriate, arguing that by suggesting federal control of the island, she had shown a lack of respect for the Sultan of Kedah. He pointed out that Langkawi already has a federal statutory body, the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), which could be allocated more resources, negating the need for federal control over the island. – November 14, 2025