Use votes as leverage for oil royalty, says Husam
Hafiz YatimPublished: Jan 22, 2013 2:37 PM | Updated: Jan 22, 2013 9:35 PM
Kelantan senior exco member Husam Musa has urged residents of the oil-producing states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak and Pahang to use their votes as leverage to seek a 20 percent oil royalty payment from the federal government.
UPDATED 5.30PM
With 96 seats in K'tan, T'ganu, Sabah, S'wak and Pahang, votes should be used as 'a bargaining chip'.
Kelantan senior exco member Husam Musa has urged residents of the oil-producing states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak and Pahang to use their votes as leverage to seek a 20 percent oil royalty payment from the federal government.
Husam noted that there are 96 parliamentary seats in the five states, which he dubbed the ‘P5'.
"I am not specifically talking about Kelantan, but Malaysia as a whole, and the five oil producing states as a whole," he said in Kuala Lumpur today.
Husam (left) also expressed concern that Section 4 of the Territorial Seas Act 2012 has eroded the control or rights of the states over the mineral and petroleum sectors.
Sabah and Sarawak are affected as the seabed, sub-soil and continental shelf belongs to these states, but they will lose control to federal government under the Act.
"This legislation will affect the states’ autonomy and this is why the five petroleum states should combine and discuss terms,” Husam said.
He said he has written to the heads of Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu and has secured an appointment with the Sarawak chief minister next month.
Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Second Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin had recently said that any increase in oil royalty would bankrupt the national oil company.
However, the Sabah Progressive Party has countered that, if this is so, then Petronas should not be running the state’s oil business.
Husam also said that, despite premier Najib Abdul Razak offer of seven projects should BN capture Kelantan, he is confident this will not translate into votes.
“Based on past experience, I can say the people of Kelantan tak makan pancing (will not take the bait). The Kelantanese are smart in politics and Najib’s pledge will not (affect their sentiments).
“I am not saying this because I am in the Kelantan government. If I were the prime minister, I would (carry out) projects. If there is intention (to develop the state), then (we should) commit (to this) and fulfill it. Why should we wait until after the general election or impose conditions?
“If the federal government fulfils its obligations by paying the oil royalty money - as stated in the agreement - we would build such facilities ourselves.”
The Kelantan government has filed a legal claim to RM12 billion, from total oil royalty payments by Petronas to the federal government.
“If this is paid we can build six highways at RM2 billion each. If this is paid we can build stadiums and if the RM800 million which we have sought annually is paid, then we can build 16 mosques a year,” added Husam.
“Najib’s promise is a replica to what the current state government has planned to do. So, pay us the royalty and we will manage it to build the infrastructure.”
Kelantan files injunction application against Petronas
Husam noted that there are 96 parliamentary seats in the five states, which he dubbed the ‘P5'.
"I am not specifically talking about Kelantan, but Malaysia as a whole, and the five oil producing states as a whole," he said in Kuala Lumpur today.
Husam (left) also expressed concern that Section 4 of the Territorial Seas Act 2012 has eroded the control or rights of the states over the mineral and petroleum sectors. Sabah and Sarawak are affected as the seabed, sub-soil and continental shelf belongs to these states, but they will lose control to federal government under the Act.
"This legislation will affect the states’ autonomy and this is why the five petroleum states should combine and discuss terms,” Husam said.
He said he has written to the heads of Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu and has secured an appointment with the Sarawak chief minister next month.
Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Second Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin had recently said that any increase in oil royalty would bankrupt the national oil company.
However, the Sabah Progressive Party has countered that, if this is so, then Petronas should not be running the state’s oil business.
Husam also said that, despite premier Najib Abdul Razak offer of seven projects should BN capture Kelantan, he is confident this will not translate into votes.
“Based on past experience, I can say the people of Kelantan tak makan pancing (will not take the bait). The Kelantanese are smart in politics and Najib’s pledge will not (affect their sentiments).
“I am not saying this because I am in the Kelantan government. If I were the prime minister, I would (carry out) projects. If there is intention (to develop the state), then (we should) commit (to this) and fulfill it. Why should we wait until after the general election or impose conditions?
“If the federal government fulfils its obligations by paying the oil royalty money - as stated in the agreement - we would build such facilities ourselves.”
The Kelantan government has filed a legal claim to RM12 billion, from total oil royalty payments by Petronas to the federal government. “If this is paid we can build six highways at RM2 billion each. If this is paid we can build stadiums and if the RM800 million which we have sought annually is paid, then we can build 16 mosques a year,” added Husam.
“Najib’s promise is a replica to what the current state government has planned to do. So, pay us the royalty and we will manage it to build the infrastructure.”
Kelantan files injunction application against Petronas
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