‘PAKATAN COMMITTED TO OIL ROYALTY PLEDGE’

There will be no U-turn on the matter, says Dr Wan Azizah

THE Pakatan Harapanled government is committed to fulfilling its promises on oil royalty to oil-producing states, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She said she would refer the matter to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We are committed in this matter and there will be no U-turn because that is our promise.

“Although we are committed, we also need to look at the nation’s current situation,” she said after launching the Stop Pornography seminar at the Kent Teachers’ Training Campus here yesterday.

Wan Azizah was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s recent statement that the payment of 20 per cent oil royalty to state governments was subjected to profits earned by the oil companies operating in the states’ waters.

The prime minister was reported to have said the amount of royalty to each state government was different as it relied on profits from operations at each location.

In its manifesto in the 14th General Election, PH promised to increase the oil royalty to 20 per cent for Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Questions had been raised on whether the state governments would receive payments based on income or profit.

On Saturday, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg said the state government was seeking clarification on the Federal Government’s decision in the provision of 20 per cent of oil and gas profits.

We are committed in this matter and there will be no Uturn because that is our promise. Although we are committed, we also need to look at the nation’s current situation. DATUK SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL