(The Star) - Former Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has weighed in on the oil royalty debate, saying that all oil-producing states including Kelantan had a right to oil royalty.

Razaleigh’s view clearly opposed that of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who had insisted on Tuesday that Kelantan had no right to ask for oil royalty as no petroleum was produced in the state’s waters within three nautical miles of the coastal line.

“It is a constitutional right of the people, whether is it found on shore or off shore. I think the agreement that was signed between the states and Petronas assures that the states where oil is found, whether on shore or off shore, will benefit from such a find,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Wednesday.

The Federal Government had labelled the oil payout to Kelantan as a “goodwill payment,” which the Opposition objected to, saying that money was a right and not a goodwill payment.

“There is no such thing as wang ehsan (goodwill payment) because oil is the right of the people and it’s not for the Federal Government to distribute as a largess.

“The Government can distribute such funds from the revenue collected from taxes and that is its prerogative; but when it comes to this, it is the right of the people.

“That’s why I feel inclined to say my piece because I was involved from the beginning and I know the intention of why we had the agreement with the states,” he said.

Razaleigh, who was Finance Minister and Petronas chairman when the Petroleum Development Act 1974 came into force, held a short discussion with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, PKR strategic director Tian Chua and election director Saifuddin Nasution on the issue at the MPs’ lounge.

Razaleigh said they wanted to form a caucus on the matter and wanted him to lead it, to which he said he would consider it.

Comments (10)

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written by asguard, November 19, 2009 10:51:04

Well... see how arrogance are they....then yet can say people first! What kind of barang naik... of lately said people first is total BULLSHIT....Talk nonsense...when oil royalty being ask by state government is being rejected...

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written by jaz, November 19, 2009 10:36:07

oil-producing states including Kelantan had a right to oil royalty.


DUH!!!

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written by budakindia, November 19, 2009 09:41:52

where were you when Mahathir made the same scheme back in 1999?

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written by rocky, November 18, 2009 23:37:29

UMNO/BN wants the money. if they give it to PAS, PAS will spend it wisely and on the people. Look at Tgganu, falling roof after millions of dollars. monsoon cup which is syok sendiri as no one else in the world cares. So UMNO/Bn can't have a someone showing how to do it honestly. But hey rakyat didahulukan....bila ada kerugian la. Balik la PM

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written by Nixcloud, November 18, 2009 20:10:16

Thank you Ku Li - you have earned my respect!

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written by sataysticks, November 18, 2009 20:09:56

We should feed Nazi Nazri some petrol to keep his mouth well oiled and to talk some sense!

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written by Oscar Winner, November 18, 2009 20:01:48

It's obvious. No loyalty to UMNO, no oil loyalty for you. Period.

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written by Aduh, November 18, 2009 19:53:39

Good of your to speak up Tengku. Let all Malaysians realize that the minister who is very vocal against royalty is a nut.of the highest order.

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written by cheekhiaw, November 18, 2009 19:37:35

Now the UMNO fellas are the tuans, the Kelantanese the squatters....

xxx

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written by Jan, November 18, 2009 19:25:26

It will only happen under a Pakatan Federal govt.

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