By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider
Mustafa added that when the Terengganu government brought the Federal government to court in 2001 for withdrawing oil royalty payments, Razaleigh was willing to testify for the state.
The Gua Musang Umno division chief — at a public rally in Kota Bahru last week — backed Kelantan’s demand for oil royalty.
Umno leaders have slammed Razaleigh for supporting Kelantan’s claim, saying that the Kelantanese prince was being inconsistent as he had supported the Federal government for withdrawing Terengganu’s oil royalty in 2000.
“Ku Li showed greater commitment then by expressing his willingness to go to court,” said Mustafa who was a Terengganu executive councillor when PAS ruled the state from 1999 to 2004.
Mustafa said Razaleigh also attended a forum in 2008 on Terengganu’s demand for oil royalty to be reinstated.
The Federal government, led by Tun Mahathir Mohamad, decided to revoke the oil royal just months after PAS took over the state in November 1999. The state has been receiving compassionate payment since then.
The case is still ongoing and early last year the state received some RM400 million in oil royalty from the Federal government and is still demanding payment of another RM2.79 billion.
“In the last state assembly, the state government had declared its commitment not to withdraw the case until negotiations is over,” said Mustafa on the status of the case.
“It is my responsibility to present the facts, as I do not want Ku Li to be victimised,” he said.
On whether the Kelantan government should take the matter to court, Mustafa said it is better for the state not to do so as it will stop public debate on the subject.
“From our experience in Terengganu, after 10 years the case is still unresolved,” said Mustafa.
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