The oil royalty special committee recently announced by prime minister Najib Razak to look into states’ claims to oil wealth continued to be dismissed by PAS, with its Terengganu chief saying the committee should just be renamed ‘election panel’.
Abdul Wahid Endut described as mind-blogging the setting up of the panel, saying all the government had to do was to honour the Petroleum Development Act 1974 signed between Petronas and state governments.
“What is the need for the panel when the agreement is already there. It is clear there is oil in Kelantan but the Federal government lands it in Thailand. This is only for election. The committee is for election,” he told Harakahdaily.
Najib had said the committee’s role was to work out a “fair” distribution of payments from petroleum revenue to the states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, and to determine states’ eligibility to oil royalty as well as method and quantum involved.
However, PAS leaders including its Murshidul Am and Kelantan Menteri Besar Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat have expressed scepticism, arguing that the move was mooted when election was around the corner.
Wahid, who is also Kuala Terengganu member of parliament, said Kelantan should be careful not to fall into BN’s trap.
He also questioned why Pahang, a non-oil producing state, had been included in the list of recipients to be considered by the special committee for the oil royalty payment.
“It seems that Najib is trying to divert (oil income) to his home state. Perhaps next Johor will demand for royalty too, and Najib will include it in the list,” he remarked.-Harakahdaily
