(The Edge) - Former Petronas chairman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today stressed that the federal government was not at liberty to "distribute as largess" the proceeds from oil and gas production because such gains rightfully belonged to the people.
Razaleigh told reporters that there was "no such thing" as wang ihsan or 'compassionate payments', referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's announcement on Nov 3 that the federal government would pay wang ihsan to the Kelantan state government.
"Oil is not for the federal government to distribute as largess. The government can distribute from the revenue collected from taxes, and that is the prerogative of the federal government, but when it comes to this, it is the right of the people," Razaleigh said.
Asked if Najib was wrong in the announcement, the Umno veteran smiled and said, "Well, that's up to you to interpret".
Razaleigh (Gua Musang - BN) added that the people had constitutional rights over proceeds for oil and gas found onshore or offshore, based on the agreements signed between Petronas and the states.
The long-serving member of parliament (MP), who is also known as Ku Li, revealed that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had invited him to head a parliamentary caucus on the "hot subject" of oil royalties with a view of arriving at an "amicable solution to the problem".
This was likely discussed during Razaleigh's meeting with PR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Permatang Pauh - PKR), PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub (Kubang Kerian - PAS) and PKR election director Saifuddin Nasution (Machang - PKR).
The half-hour meeting took place at the MPs lounge in parliament this afternoon.
However, Razaleigh said he had not given an answer, and declined to state when he would announce his decisions.
"I'll be following the developments to see if I can contribute because after all I was involved in the oil business starting with the formation with Petronas, negotiation with the states, drafting of the laws," he said.
Razaleigh, who is founding chairman and chief executive of Petronas from 1974, was involved in negotiations between the national oil corporation and the various states.
The former finance minister also played a key role in designing the Petroleum Development Act 1974.
Razaleigh had been speaking up in support of the Terengganu and Kelantan's rights to obtain five percent royalty for petroleum, whether found offshore and onshore, rather than mere compassionate payment.
written by asguard, November 19, 2009 10:56:21
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written by sydput, November 19, 2009 10:02:21
That is why, the significant opposition inroads made in 2008 will never be allowed to happen again as it did under Pak Lah.
And some time in the future, the people and politicians of sabah and sarawak will ask themselves, why at this critical moment, they did not do anything to correct the wrongs in this country.
Tengku Razaleigh who concocted the Petroleum act 1974, must ask why he persuaded all states to sign away their mineral(oil) and gas) rights to Petronas, which is under the control of the PM.
The amount of mismanagement in Petronas could be worse than the ones discovered in govenrment.
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written by budakindia, November 19, 2009 09:30:24
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written by Ghifarix, November 19, 2009 08:54:38
Japan launches probe into secret US deals
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:16:46 GMT
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada
The Japanese Foreign Ministry has launched an investigation into secret US-Japan deals signed by previous governments.
The review was ordered by Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada who has set transparency as one of the main goals of the new Japanese government's foreign policy.
A panel will announce the final outcome of the probe in the coming months.
Some of the deals are related to the 1972 handover of the control of Okinawa from the US to Japan.
The panel will also be trying to find out whether the ministry possesses documents that reveal a pact on dealing with nuclear-armed US vessels and aircraft.
Under that deal in 1960, Tokyo allowed stopovers of US vessels or aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. Official US documents and testimony from people involved in secret negotiations have already confirmed the existence of such deals.
The news comes as the US and Japan have been at logger heads over the future of the US military base in Okinawa for weeks.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama promised in the run-up to his August election victory to move the Futenma US Marine base off Okinawa despite an agreement Washington had reached with the previous Japanese government to move it to another part of the island.
However, Washington says that Japan has no alternative to housing the US air base on its soil, and the 2006 agreement must go on as planned.
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written by Apek, November 19, 2009 08:33:01
I am convinced that the concept of Wang Ehsan is alien to the law. The terms are clearly 5% of total Oil revenue (called Royalty payment) obtained by Petronas within 12 nautical miles from shore. I could be wrong but I do not remember the Petroleum Act being amended to reduce the sovereign right of the state. I do not know where Nazri gets his 3 nautical mile rule from.
It is clear that the States have a right to demand disclosure of Petronas Books and the return of all the monies unpaid to the state - including all the loss payments of high commodity prices in 2007-2008. I suggest that the states hire strong constitutional lawyers to take their case to the Federal Court.
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written by Bloodhound, November 19, 2009 00:27:22
Our current crop of politicians are devious and dishonest without honour! What was agreed upon, now becomes a political football for them to ravage, plunder and knowingly misinterprete/misrepresent without any conscience.
Politicians without honour are capable of twisting the wordings and meanings of what was written in agreements to suit their interpretations and desires. This is what we are seeing unfolding before us. Words which are understood in no uncertain terms when the agreements were signed are now being ravaged by the new crop of corrupt politicians willing to bury their honour in order to achieve their wanton greed and deviant behaviour.
The people who are being robbed by these uncouth politicians must be informed of their entitlements and must be informed of these politicians' devious greed and actions which directly affects the peoples' standards of living. Their state of poverty is a direct result of such manipulations by these devious crooks!
Ku Li, do not let them drag your good name into the sewer by allowing them to play politics with your promises and understanding of the agreements which you yourself had signed with the states representatives! Your words are your honour and you have every right to fight to clear your name by fighting to honour the agreements that you had signed with them.
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Money meant for the development of a state belongs to the state.
The federal government is only collecting the money on behalf of the state.
She has no authority to hold back or otherwise spend those money as if she has earned them.