Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat said today that although he is grateful for the compassionate payment or ‘wang eshan’ from the federal government for its offshore oil production he is still not

satisfied.

Nevertheless, the PAS spiritual leader said he would fulfil his "nazar" (spiritual vow) to fast for three days as the payment would benefit the people in Kelantan.

"Deep down in my heart, I'm still not satisfied with the compassionate payment. What we want is the oil royalty," he told Bernama in Kota Bahru.

Like the ‘compassionate payment’ to Terengganu when the state was under PAS rule, the money will be controlled by the federal government, not the state government.

Prime Minister Najib Razak today announced that starting next year, Kelantan would receive a compassionate payment through Petronas for its offshore oil production.

Prior to this, the state government had written officially to the federal government seeking RM1 billion in oil royalty since 2004 based on Statistics Department figures.

K’tan not entitled to oil royalty

Nik Aziz said he would convene a meeting of state executive council to further discuss the oil royalty demand.

The menteri besar was disappointed over Najib's remarks that from the legal point of view Kelantan was not entitled to receive the oil royalty.

Meanwhile, former Kelantan Umno liaison committee chairman, Annuar Musa said the state government should be thankful to the federal government as the compassionate payment could be used for the benefit of the people like in education and eradication of poverty.

"I am one of those who are happy with the announcement because Kelantan Umno had also fought for Kelantan to receive the compassionate payment," he said.