Boot PAS out in GE15 if you want your oil royalties, Kelantan told

 

Former minister Zaid Ibrahim says Kelantan is owed an estimated RM20 billion in oil royalties. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan folk will be able to enjoy the payment of oil royalties from the federal government if PAS is booted out from governing the state in the next general election (GE15), says former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Zaid said he was confident that Kelantan would be paid the oil royalties if Umno were to return to power in Putrajaya, adding that he had submitted suggestions to the party’s leadership on how to develop the state’s oil and gas industry.

Describing the matter as the main issue for the people of Kelantan, he said the demand for 5% of the petroleum revenue derived from the state since 1975 involved an estimated RM20 billion.

“This is a big amount that the federal government owes the people of Kelantan. This royalty is based on a legitimate agreement between the federal and state governments in 1975,” he said in a statement today.

Zaid Ibrahim.

Zaid said he did not understand why PAS had retracted its oil royalty suit against Putrajaya in 2019 just because the federal government was giving it RM400 million, since the state was entitled to more than that.

Should Umno take over the Kelantan government, he said, a petroleum company would be formed in the state, creating thousands of job opportunities while establishing the state’s oil and gas industry.

He said the oil royalty payments from Putrajaya could be used to develop the state and ensure clean water supply for all.

Zaid pointed out that Sarawak had been successful in demanding for its oil royalties, which were used to repair schools and build housing units and hospitals in the rural areas.

“Conversely, Kelantan’s leaders are satisfied with getting a ministerial post and a Toyota Vellfire or Alphard. They don’t care about the people’s poverty. It’s time Kelantan voters find a way out from their suffering,” he said.

He also said only PAS or Umno would be able to win the hearts of the voters in the east coast, dismissing Pakatan Harapan’s chances of governing the state. - FMT