From Malaysia Kini

By S Pathmawathy

Veteran parliamentarian Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today reminded those who cautioned him against participating in an oil royalty caucus mooted by the opposition that he is capable of deciding for himself.

“I don’t have to think too much about it… I am aged, an adult (and) I can think,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby.

The Gua Musang Umno MP was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s remark that Razaleigh should think carefully whether to accept the invitation by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“It is better that Razaleigh carefully analyses (his decision) because even though it involves the state of Kelantan, (the caucus) is sponsored by the opposition and Anwar himself is behind it,” Muhyiddin had said.

The deputy premier added that it was not a common policy for Barisan Nasional legislators to partake in such a caucus.

Razaleigh was involved in drafting the Petroleum Development Act in 1974. He was the then finance minister and the first chairperson of national oil company Petronas.

The Umno politician’s personal stand is that the oil royalty belongs to the people.

This is about national interest

“What does principles have to do with it? We are taking about national interest,” he said.

“(The Public Accounts Committee) PAC chair is member of BN, his deputy is (from) DAP. Back then when there was a body on the United Nation’s human rights, (Mohd) Nazri (Abdul Aziz) was the chair and (Lim) Kit Siang was the deputy. What is wrong with it?” he asked.

Razaleigh also stressed that he wants fair representation from all parties.

“There wasn’t any misunderstanding, I think he (Muhyiddin) probably didn’t get what I was telling him properly.

“I have not accepted or rejected the invitation so let me consider it. But I would like to have fair representation of MPs from all states, particularly oil producing states,” he said.

Razaleigh explained that there was no urgency in him giving an answer or in setting up the caucus as when the outcome of the caucus is agreed upon by the federal government, the royalty has to be backdated from the time of petroleum exploration in the concerned states.

“I don’t think anybody (would) lose except that the government should honour and respect the agreement that was signed. Similarly Petronas must carry out its obligation,” he said.

“There was no wang ehsan (goodwill payment) in the agreement, I made the agreement and there was no wang ehsan. Wang ehsan is for those who are begging for alms. This is the public’s right,” he added.