Thousands of Kelantan government supporters gathered outside the Federal Court in Putrajaya this morning, as a leave application was being heard over the state’s demand for oil royalty payments.

NONE Many were dressed in red T-shirts, with the ‘R’ (for royalty) prominently displayed on the back, and had travelled to Putrajaya in a convoy from the east coast state.

 

The organiser, Gabungan Profesional Tuntut Royalti, Pendaratan Minyak dan Gas ke Negeri Kelantan (Royalti), estimated the crowd size at 3,000, but police put this at about 1,000.

 

Despite their numbers, there was calm as the supporters waited for the decision. Most posed for photos, while the organiser’s representatives intermittently reminded them to "Relax! relax!".

 

The participants, who had gathered since 6am, sat quietly, holding up banners and placards towards passing vehicles.

 

NONE Some of the banners read ‘Oil and gas; our dignity’, ‘Our rights have been stolen’, and ‘Discriminated since 1974', the latter in reference to the enactment of the Petroleum Act 1974.

 

Sporadic shouts of “Takbir!” (God is great) were quickly hushed up by organisers, who also warned against any provocation and pointed out the only persons allowed to use a loud-hailer.

Prayers (solat hajat) were said in the hope of a favourable outcome.

 

When Kelantan exco members emerged from the court about 9.45am, participants moved from the front of the building to the side in eagerly anticipation of the ruling. Again, the organiser urged them to remain calm.

 

“No matter what the outcome, we shall accept it because our fight does not end here,” said Royalti coalition president Mohd Nazri Deraman.

“Even if we win, we still have a long fight ahead and we will need to steel our hearts because, as long as we do not get it (royalty payments), we will demand for it until we do. And if we lose, we’ll just keep demanding until we get it.”

Petition with 160,000 signatures

Kelantan exco member Takiyuddin Hassan explained the legal processes involved in the dispute, the process of obtaining leave, and then announced that the leave had been granted, to which the crowd responded with loud cries of “Takbir!” .

NONE “Although the decision is not final, I consider this the first victory in the demand for royalty payments,” he added.

 

Another exco member Husam Musa (left) said the victory did not come easily.

 

“At first it seemed dark. Previously in hearings of Terengganu’s case (for oil royalty payments), Petronas never gave up and never gave an inch of leeway,” he recounted.

 

“But praise to God, Petronas did not object to our case today and agreed to our lawyer’s application.”

 

He said Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has been informed of the decision and has asked the participants to say prayers of gratitude (solat syukur) .

 

The group dispersed after the prayers at 10.30am, while a five-member delegation left for the Prime Minister’s Office to hand over a petition supporting the call for royalty payments.

 

Mohd Nazri told reporters at a press conference later that the petition is backed by about 160,000 signatures, which is equivalent to 10 percent of Kelantan’s population.

VIDEO l 3.58 mins

Oil royalty: Kelantan gov't can push questions of law