Sunday, November 08, 2009

Kelantan : Oil Royalty and BN Kelantan

Over the past week, a big brou-ha-ha was made on the issue of Wang Ehsan (compassionate payment) announcement for Kelantan.

In response to a question by a PAS Parliamentarian on Kelantan's claims for oil royalties from Petronas, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced a compassionate payment for the State on top of a Federal Government budget allocation under the 9th Malaysia Plan.

Quoting from Wang ehsan for Kelantan from next year (NST : 4 Nov 2009) and Najib: 'Wang ehsan' is an additional amount (NST : 5 Nov 2009) ,

  1. "Under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the government is giving Kelantan more than RM7 billion. That is huge. Even without the wang ehsan, the government is already committed to developing Kelantan."

  2. "The wang ehsan is an additional amount, which is being channelled to the Kelantan people," he said, adding that the government would be transparent and would discuss with the Kelantan government before implementing projects."

  3. "To ensure that the money is enjoyed directly by the people of Kelantan, the allocation will be in the form of development projects and poverty eradication programmes and will be channelled directly by the federal government after discussion with the state government."

There are many pro PAS bloggers out there. However, I only enjoy reading one - Sheih Kickdefella - since he provides detailed arguments and reasoning consistently.

Though at times I do not agree with certain views, we must agree to disagree and understand that his perspectives are as a PAS member.

Sheih wrote two articles that seem to argue, with great details, on Petronas operations in waters of Kelantan (debatable due to boundaries definition).

The original article presented the points :

Petronas Jangan Tipu Rakyat Kelantan (summary)
  • Pada 9 Mei 1975, Menteri Besar Kelantan ketika itu, Dato’ Haji Mohamed Bin Nasir telah menandatangani perjanjian dengan Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) yang diwakili oleh Pengerusinya, YBM Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah.

  • Salah satu butiran perjanjian itu adalah seperti yang tercatat di dalam seksyen 1 (1) yang berbunyi,

    “Petronas hendaklah membayar wang tunai kepada Kerajaan secara bayaran tahunan sebanyak yang setara dengan 5% dari nilai petroleum yang didapati dan diperolehi di Kelantan…”

  • Akta 144 Kemajuan Petroleum 1974 - setiap kawasan di dalam Perairan Malaysia adalah milik salah satu daripada 13 negeri yang disebut di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan
  • Akta 440 Malaysian-Thailand Joint Authority 1990 - menjamin hak Kelantan ke atas perairan tersebut serta terus mengangkat sebarang perjanjian yang dimeterai sebelumnya.

However, a mainstream blog BigDogDotCom, which I enjoy reading also, has refuted Kelantan's claims on royalty payments from Petronas also based on legislation.

Heuristically hydrocarbon (summary)
  • Federal Government is not compelled to give any part of the earnings from oil and gas to any of the states, including Kelantan.

  • The Petroleum Development Act does not provide such provisions but instead named Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) as the sole custodian to all matters pertaining oil and gas.

  • The agreement signed between the Petronas and Kelantan State Government on 9 May 1975 still falls under the Petronas Development Act.

  • The state borders - three nautical miles from the shores. The international boundary - 12 nautical miles.

  • The drilling operations under Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - 200 nautical miles (370 km radius) from the shore.

I have a feeling that this matter will end up in Court.

Anyway, do read BDDC's article as he provided details on Barisan Nasional Government's service to the people (fuel subsidies) and Kelantan (development projects).

I have read many blogs since last year with campaigns called "Perak Bangkit" and "Selangor Bangkit".

These are calls to the people and politicians of the States to rise against the hastily and poorly assembled Opposition parties that have resulted in multiple unrest and numerous by elections.

It is about time Barisan Nasional look into "Kelantan Bangkit" - one mission which Dr M, Tengku Razaleigh and Pak Lah failed.

We almost had it in 2004 where Kelantan was led by PAS with only a one-seat majority. Surely, Kelantanese are not fully behind PAS and their votes do swing to Barisan Nasional.

I say, let's do it and win the people back !

12 comments:

Syameer Firdaus said...

It's obvious that Kelantan has no right to receive the royalty because they are not an oil-producer state in Malaysia. The name 'Wang-Ehsan' should not be quest over by any of the opposition member or even the barisan member as it's best suits the kelantan people so they knew that this money, is not from their tok guru but from the federal govt leaded by Barisan Nasional for their sake, besides other political motive to my own personal views! (please note the words personal)

Goh Wei Liang said...

Chandra, when I present my arguments, I present it with supporting points and evidences.

I guess you were to engross in the Pakatan concept of intimidation, defamation.

I am no Omar Goh and it is a mockery to Islam if you keep calling a non Muslim with a Muslim name. It constitutes a childish, immature act and surely one which we do not want to portray to the world.

In my article, I said "We almost had it in 2004 where Kelantan was led by PAS with only a one-seat majority. Surely, Kelantanese are not fully behind PAS and their votes do swing to Barisan Nasional."

This shows that Kelantanese are not fully behind PAS. Otherwise, how come Kelantanese almost voted in a Barisan Nasional Government in 2004 ? Votes do swing between PAS and Barisan Nasional.

So, think before you shoot away as you might be shooting yourself and embarassing yourself.

Syameer, good point. Currently the status of Kelantan oil rigs are questioned by two bloggers. We shall see how the legal teams battle it out.

CHAIRMAN KAGA said...

PENCACAI GOH
LU DIAM! LU TAK TAU APA APA.

NI KALAO NAK BERBAKTI PADA NEGARA SIARKAN JE KOMEN CHAIRMAN KAGA

PENCACAI SINGH MAIN KAYU TIGA. SELEPAS CHAIRMAN KAGA PUJI DIA KERANA DIA TAK TERGAMAK NAK TAPIS KOMEN CHAIRMAN KAGA, DIA DIBERI ARAHAN TERUS DARI PARPU DAN DIA PI PADAM KOMEN CHAIRMAN KAGA...BALACAI TAMBI ESTET. MUKA KATA SINGH TAPI PERANGAI MACAM BANGLA. HEBOHKAN PADA SEMUA!

Goh Wei Liang said...

Haha. Sabar Chairman Kaga. Saya tak pernah tapis komen CK. Lagipun, tak ada apa yang perlu ditapis pun. Komen CK tak ada isi atau hujah biasanya.

Anonymous said...

Omar Goh,

What facts are you talking about ??
If Nik Aziz did not have the support of Kelantanese...do you think he can be MB for over two decade ??

Please go to the ground (kelantan) to find out for yourself. The Chinese and Indian in the state are solidly support Nik Aziz over the years without fail and the same from the Malays at large !!

So, Omar.."think before you shoot away as you might be shooting yourself and embarassing yourself."

Lastly Omar, are you suffer from "Pakatan Phobia" ? and what with your...Pakatan concept of intimidation, defamation ??

Get real Omar, not all commentators that are disagreeing to your writing are from Pakatan.


Chandra

Goh Wei Liang said...

Chandra oh Chandra. Yes indeed Nik Aziz is the Menteri Besar.

However, to come up with a sweeping statement that Kelantan people are solidly behind Nik Aziz is wrong.

How then can we explain the Election results of 2004 where the once great PAS almost lost the State and only rule Kelantan with a one seat majority ?

Surely at that time, many of PAS supporters voted for Barisan Nasional. And this means that votes do swing in Kelantan and the people are not blindly supporting Kelantan PAS.

Please understand this point before you come up with absolute statements saying that the people are behind Nik Aziz.

Anonymous said...

Dear Goh,

Why "Omar" attached to your name ?

It's either you are naive or just pretentious.

In a simple term, your open support in the cyberspace for TDM and BN/UMNO qualifies you to be an "Umnoputra". Thus, it's good to have an UMNO name attached.

Sorry to say, you may be sincere in presenting your beliefs and thoughts, but do accept the facts, there are different views here.

joostspring said...

to chandra...

mmg betul bukan semua org kelantan menyokong pas..

kl tuan xpercaya anda bleh check dgn sendri..rakyat kelantan yg mengundi bn PRU12 dlm plus minus 43% dan mengundi pas plus minus 57%...

kawe caye kelate menang pun sbb penundi dr luar kelate yg blk ngundi...

kl pengundi yg bermastautin di kelantan je yg mengundi nescaya nik aziz akan kalah pada PRU12 hr tu..

Anonymous said...

Dude..

Enjoy your writing. Please make your take about SSS...

Anon

Anonymous said...

Hidup Wei Liang Goh!!

Kelantan Bangkit!

Kelantan Pas tak ada apa. Tengok saja di Manek Urai. Kerajaan BN juga yang buat jambatan. Harapkan Pas. Asyik berceramah saja. Lepas tu salahkan BN. Cakap BN janji tapi tak buat. BN janji kalau menang. Pas menang lepas tangan sahaja. BN juga yg baik hati bela rakyat. Rakyat didahulukan! Pembangunan Pas habuk pun tarak. Masalah air tak selesai-selesai sampai sekarang.

KelantanMestiBangkit!

Anonymous said...

joostpring,

betul. kawe pun raso gitu. kalu ikut orge tempatan doh lamo pas lingkup. takdok pembangune. harap sematom-mato pado kerajaan pusat jah. jalan tar hok molek come kerajaan bn pusat buat. pas dok caro sebutir habok. dia pakat buak rumoh besar di belake umoh dio hok kecik tuh. tok cayo pergi kelih. orge pun doh nampok pas buke miskin. dia puro2. cuba kelih adun melor. saguhati perceraian sajo doh cecoh rm3 juto. buke 3 ria. gilo. dah tu guano pas dok suroh ogre dermo. dio doh kayo. kito takdok gapo.

kelategomo

Anonymous said...

Adding an 'Omar' to a fellow non Muslim name is the really childish.

I,sometimes,do not agree with Goh's view at some matters of not able to do admit some of Mahathir's weakness but I do not have to resort for name calling etc.

Chandra,just because Goh seems to be inclined to BN , does that mean he is a MALAY=MUSLIM or UMNO member.Or do you have problem with Malays or ... MUSLIM ?
Do you have anything against those who converts to Islam ?
Kaga , I do not like Parpukari..sorry I hate him but your style of attention seeking writing,CAP bold alpha make me see no difference between you two.
These kind of remarks are repulsive from fence sitters view.

Shame on you fanatics!

Titan