Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has renewed the call to continue the struggle for Kelantan's rights on the oil royalty issue, citing the people’s rights to the resources in their own state.

He said the issue was one that he has to see through in the interests of the rakyat despite his personal problem with the Kelantan palace where titles bestowed on him were revoked by new Kelantan ruler, Sultan Muhammad V, late last year.

"The issue (honorific title) is different from the oil royalty issue as it (oil royalty) involves the state's rights under the concept of federalism.

“The formation of (state petroleum firm) Petronas, a brain child of the second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, was also to help the impoverished states on the eastern coast. Unlike the British agreement which did not give such rights to the states (where oil was) found off-shore, Abdul Razak wanted such oil royalty payments be made if it is found off-shore.

"It is for this right and bearing this in mind that the various menteris besar and chief ministers signed the agreement with Petronas and under the concept of federalism, they agreed to surrender the state rights to the national oil company," the founder of Petronas and executive chairperson said.

Tengku Razaleigh said the matter was as plain simple as the point that whatever oil found off-shore be it in Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Kelantan or in Sabah and Sarawak, all these states should be paid oil royalty.

“It is only five percent and not much.”

The Kelantan PAS government had filed a breach of contract suit against Petronas on Aug 30, over unpaid oil royalty since 1998 for oil gotten off Kelantan shores. Oil royalty is paid to Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak, but not to Kelantan.

During a briefing between the Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat with bloggers recently, fellow state exco member Husam Musa said the federal government had raised an objection over the suit.

The case is fixed for hearing and discovery of the documents on Jan 27.

The oil royalty issue has been a bone of contention between prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration and Nik Aziz. It appears to be slated for the spotlight again when the matter goes to court.

In the past, Tengku Razaleigh had openly pledged to support the PAS-led Kelantan government fight for the oil royalty, and was willing to be a witness.

Can Umno retake Kelantan?

Asked to comment on Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapa Mohamed's statement that the party was confident in wresting 20 seats from PAS in the next general election, Tengku Razaleigh said Umno must work hard on it if that was indeed the target.

Presently, Umno and BN has seven seats in the 45-seat assembly after it recaptured the Galas state seat in a by-election held last year.

“I am not certain of Umno's strength as I have been away from Kelantan. But if that is what Mustapa had said, then the party must work hard to regain the people's trust,” he said.

The Gua Musang MP was also asked on whether Najib should take on Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in the debate over the Pakatan Rakyat's 100-day reforms.

Tengku Razaleigh said he believes Najib had declined the invitation.

Asked whether a debate can help the public vouch who can be a better leader, the MP said: “You have to ask Najib and Anwar.”