The former Petronas chairman (right) said that if the federal government agreed to provide the royalty, he wanted to ensure that the money was not misused by the state government.
"My offer to be a mediator may have been misinterpreted. I had only offered to help monitor to ensure that the oil royalty given as cash payment is not misused, provided the federal government agreed to it.
"However, as the money is not being given as cash payment or royalty, and as it is to be given as compassionate fund, the matter does not arise any more," he was quoted by Bernama as saying.
Earlier, Razaleigh had attended the opening of the 13th general
meeting of the Kelantan Mosque Officers and Staff Association by the Tengku Bendahara of Kelantan, Tengku Mohamad Faiz Tengku Ismail Petra, who is also the President of the Kelantan Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council (MAIK), in Kota Baharu.
meeting of the Kelantan Mosque Officers and Staff Association by the Tengku Bendahara of Kelantan, Tengku Mohamad Faiz Tengku Ismail Petra, who is also the President of the Kelantan Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council (MAIK), in Kota Baharu.
Kelantan Financial Planning, Economy and Welfare Committee chairperson Husam Musa (left) had announced that the state executive council had approved the appointment of Razaleigh as the state government's representative in discussions on the oil royalty with the federal government.
Razaleigh criticised those who often misinterpreted the matter,
saying these were politicians who thought of nothing else but politics.
saying these were politicians who thought of nothing else but politics.
Asked whether he had received any letter from the state government
appointing him as its consultant on the oil royalty issue, he said he had not.
appointing him as its consultant on the oil royalty issue, he said he had not.
Tengku Razaleigh said he did not support the state government in its claim for the oil royalty but only provided an explanation of the legal right of the state government as he was the one who had drafted the law governing petroleum royalty.
"I will not support. I only spoke in terms of the law. If oil is found
offshore Kelantan, the state is eligible for five per cent (of the oil revenue).
offshore Kelantan, the state is eligible for five per cent (of the oil revenue).
"The law has not been amended since. I drafted the law. That was the
requirement of the law. It was also what (second prime minister) Tun (Abdul) Razak (Hussein) had wanted done," he said.
requirement of the law. It was also what (second prime minister) Tun (Abdul) Razak (Hussein) had wanted done," he said.
Asked whether it was right for the Kelantan government to continue to demand oil royalty when the federal government was providing the compassionate fund, Razaleigh said that was up to the state government because he had nothing to do with the matter.
He said he would also reject any offer to be the state government
representative on the committee distributing the compassionate fund set up by the federal government because he had a lot of other matters to attend to.
representative on the committee distributing the compassionate fund set up by the federal government because he had a lot of other matters to attend to.
No palace 'conflict'
On another matter, Bernama reported Razaleigh also as having said he did not regard the issue involving the Kelantan Palace as a conflict and was confident it could be resolved soon.
He said the problem would be resolved when the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Ismail Petra (third from left), had fully recovered from his illness and returned to ruling the state again.
"It's not a palace conflict. If it is, it means there are new issues. It is
up to Tuanku (Sultan) to correct the situation. Let's wait for him to get well," he said to reporters when asked about the Kelantan Palace issue.
up to Tuanku (Sultan) to correct the situation. Let's wait for him to get well," he said to reporters when asked about the Kelantan Palace issue.
Tengku Razaleigh, who is also deputy chairman of the State Council of
Succession and uncle of the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, said he did not intend to meddle in the palace issue.
Succession and uncle of the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, said he did not intend to meddle in the palace issue.
He urged the people of Kelantan to be calm about the current palace issue.
He was confident that the Sultan would be able to carry out his official
duties as the state's ruler and head of religion once he had fully recovered from his illness.
duties as the state's ruler and head of religion once he had fully recovered from his illness.
"Tuanku was brought to Singapore (for treatment), but now be can move about, talk, eat and meet the people. Only his speech is not smooth as he was in coma for some time," he said.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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