The Day I Failed to Impeach The Prime Minister!
Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad
I had the honour and responsibility, after PAS parliamentarians nodded to my request to move a standing order to get the Prime Minister to be impeached and be referred to the Committee of Privileges for what I consider a downright lie aimed at misleading the August House, when answering the question raised by YB Kubang Kerian.
YB Salahudin Ayub (Kerian Kerian) has asked the Prime Minister on ‘Question for Oral Answers’ on Wednesday, 4 November, 2009, to state when the oil royalty claims by the Kelantan state Government be paid by Petronas. The acrimonious debate first mooted by Dato’ Husam Musa as an EXCO of the state government of Kelantan has been raging unabated eversince Manik Urai by-election. The Kelantan oil royalty issue continues to take centre-stage amongst PAS’ law-makers especially those from Kelantan in the current debate on the PM’s Maiden Budget.
PAS has always claimed that the Malaysia and Thailand joint development area (JDA) remains part of Kelantan. Kelantan is claiming oil royalty from the Thai-Malaysia joint venture in the JDA, Malaysia-Venture in the CAA and also the gas extraction from the P301. Production in the JDA started in 2004, while the CAA in 1997 and PM301 is expected to start production in 2011. By virtue of the Petroleum Development Act, 1974, signed between Petronas and the various state governments, including Kelantan back in 1975, Kelantan, like Sabah, Sarawah and Terengganu, is deserving of the oil royalty. The contentious issue hence is only in regard to determining the quantum.
