NGO 'R' told not to raise petroleum royalty issue in by-election

TUMPAT: Barisan Nasional (BN) has advised a non-governmental organisation (NGO) calling itself "R", which supports PAS, not to play up the petroleum royalty issue in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election and to stop running down the federal government over it.
Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who is also the Barisan Nasional's director for the by-election, said the NGO continued to raise the issue even though the federal government and Kelantan government had finalised several matters on the issue.
"R has been confrontational in its approach which is unIslamic. The Islamic way would be to discuss the setting up of a committee on the oil royalty," he told a press conference here today.
Mustapa, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, said the federal government and Kelantan governments had held a series of discussions on this and as a result, RM140 million has been channelled as goodwill money or 'wang ehsan' to the Federal Development Department (JPP) in Kelantan.
He said from next year, the goodwill money will be shared equally between JPP and the Kelantan Islamic Religious Council (Maik).
Mustapha said the actions by R were highly irresponsible and it should stop spreading allegations that the federal government was denying the rights of Kelantan.
Mustapa also called on Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob to explain to the people on what had been done by the federal government for the state.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said PAS could set up its own committee to investigate any parties including Petronas if it was unsatisfied on the oil royalty issue.
In the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, Barisan Nasional (BN)'s candidate Mat Razi Mat Ail will be opposed by PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.
The by-election is being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, from the BN, on Aug 20, Polling is on Sept 25. – Bernama