Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron has come under fire for saying that turning the state into a federal territory was a possibility in future.

Malacca opposition leader Khoo Poay Tiong said the state had over 600 years of history, long before Tanah Melayu or the Federation of Malaysia was formed.

"How could he make such a statement that Malacca becoming a federal territory is a possibility?

"Malacca state as we know it would disappear along with its long history. It is unacceptable," said the DAP assemblyperson in a statement today.

Khoo demanded that Idris retract his remark and apologise.

While Idris did not endorse the suggestion to turn Malacca into a federal territory, he did conceded that it could happen in future.

The chief minister said this in response to Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor's suggestion that he would like to see Penang, as well as part of Malacca and Langkawi, Kedah becoming federal territories.

"Malacca and Penang are both states without Sultan or King. Both, together with Singapore, historically speaking, were under the British as the Straits Settlements.

"This may be why Tengku sees this idea as viable," Idris was quoted as saying yesterday by the New Straits Times.

Idris had said this could be possible in future but there would be socio-political, geo-political and constitutional considerations.

"One day, there may come a time when all areas in the federal territories are fully-utilised, and they may need to expand elsewhere.

"Then they may need a new federal territory, after considering the political and socio-economic scenario (that would) allow for that," he added.

In contrast, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had vehemently opposed the idea and has launched an "I Love Penang" campaign in response.