Kelantan won’t boycott panel on petroleum royalty

KOTA BARU: Kelantan will not boycott the special committee set up by the Federal Government to study petroleum royalty payment to the east coast states.

Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said there was no reason to boycott the committee as the state government was interested to get the cash payment as soon as possible.

“However, we have yet to discuss the matter at exco level or appoint our representative to the committee. Although the name of (senior Umno member and Gua Musang MP) Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has come up, no decision has been made yet.

“There is no need to delay as the monies legally and logically belong to Kelantan,” he said after launching a Young People of Kelantan development project here.

Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, was commenting on the demand by non-governmental body Gabungan Professional Tuntut Royalti, Pendaratan Minyak dan Gas ke Negeri Kelantan (Royalti) for the PAS-led government to boycott the special committee.

A memorandum to boycott the committee was handed to Nik Abdul Aziz by Royalti chairman Nazri Deraman at the event.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced the Government’s decision to set up the committee last week.

Members of the committee will comprise local and international legal experts as well as representatives from Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu.