Budget 2020: Pakatan must fulfil its promise to give oil royalties to Kelantan, says PAS deputy president

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan federal government must fulfill its promise to give Kelantan its oil royalties under Budget 2020, says PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the Kubang Kerian MP, said that the Prime Minister had repeatedly gave his assurance that oil royalty will be given in the 2020 Budget.

"The Kelantan state government has fulfilled all the requests made by the federal government.

"So, I don't think there's any reason for the federal government not to fulfil its promise in giving oil royalty," he told reporters at the Parliament's lobby on Thursday (Oct 10).

The Pakatan Harapan federal government had promised that oil-producing states would get royalties after it took power.

One of the conditions for the Kelantan state government, however, was for it to withdraw its lawsuits on the matter against Petronas and Putrajaya, which it did in May and June this year.

Tuan Ibrahim said the government had loss some revenues after it formulated the 2019 Budget on the assumption that global oil would be priced at US$70 (RM294) per barrel.

However, the average monthly oil prices this year have mostly been around the US$55-60 (RM231-RM252) mark, and only exceeded US$65 (RM273) in

April and May before dropping again.

"We hope the government is more careful this time and focuses on more stable resources," he added.

He also noted that the government should give more focus to improve disparities between regions and development in the rural areas.

"They need to help the rural economy and the welfare of those living in the outskirts.

"They keep on saying that states like Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Terengganu are poor," he said.

He added if the Federal Government does not allocate funds for these states, nothing will change.