NIK Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (Bachok-PAS) wants Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to look into the oil royalty payment owed to Kelantan following Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s flip-flops on the matter.

“This issue has been debated for decades either by us the opposition or the government. But it is a problem of political will,” he said,while debating Budget 2020 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“Just because the finance minister has been flip-flopping on this issue, I call upon the honourable prime minister’s goodwill to intervene and fulfill Pakatan Harapan’s as per the agreement.” 

“I would like to remind the finance minister to not use the excuse of financial constraints to not pay Kelantan.”

Nik Abduh said payments that were due should not be held back for reasons of political enmity or vendetta.

He said unofficial data showed Kelantan was owed RM1 billion in royalty payments for crude oil extracted from its waters.

He demanded that the government make public the actual oil royalties due as it was irregular to keep such a thing hidden.

“The value is the same as the compassionate payment in BN’s time.” 

He said Kelantan had fulfilled all the conditions laid down in the last one year to facilitate payment.

Nik Abduh said the people of Kelantan were angry and concerned over the delay and the government’s antics.

He said it appeared as though the government wished to hold Kelantan at its mercy even though the royalties were the state’s right.

He reminded the government of the state of the Kelantan economy, which was not as developed as the other states’.

PH promised in its election manifesto to pay oil-producing states a 20% royalty instead of the current 5%. – October 21, 2019.