Former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah joined Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and issued the statement that the Kelantan state government should now get the oil royalty instead of compassionate payment.
The changed was contradictory to the statement made in October 2000, and his latest statement had confused the people, especially those in Kelantan.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said he was shocked at the change in the stand of former finance minister, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, which Kelantan had the right to receive oil royalty compared to his earlier stand.
Rais said Tengku Razaleigh's statement in 2000 was very clear that all states in the peninsula did not have any right under the Petroleum Act 1974, and "when Ku Li changed his stand two nights ago, it is most surprising how he could change his actual stand expressed in late October 2000 in front of thousands of people."
"For states thinking of making claims on the oil royalty as Kelantan is doing, they have no right under any Petroleum Act as they are in international waters where the federal government had the right.
"This is the position of the international law as well as the national law. The Petroleum Act is different from the provisions under the Continental Shelf Act where Sabah and Sarawak are subjected to.
The question arises: Why Tengku Razaleigh changed his mind so dramatically?
The changed was contradictory to the statement made in October 2000, and his latest statement had confused the people, especially those in Kelantan.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said he was shocked at the change in the stand of former finance minister, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, which Kelantan had the right to receive oil royalty compared to his earlier stand.
Rais said Tengku Razaleigh's statement in 2000 was very clear that all states in the peninsula did not have any right under the Petroleum Act 1974, and "when Ku Li changed his stand two nights ago, it is most surprising how he could change his actual stand expressed in late October 2000 in front of thousands of people."
"For states thinking of making claims on the oil royalty as Kelantan is doing, they have no right under any Petroleum Act as they are in international waters where the federal government had the right.
"This is the position of the international law as well as the national law. The Petroleum Act is different from the provisions under the Continental Shelf Act where Sabah and Sarawak are subjected to.
The question arises: Why Tengku Razaleigh changed his mind so dramatically?
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