The Don, in his letter Why continue with Terengganu oil royalty suit? views the matter in a very simplistic manner. He suggests that a phone call by Terengganu menteri besar to the prime minister would solve the problem, implying that it would be settled out of court, thereby saving taxpayers money.

Does The Don honestly think that the government cares two sen about taxpayers' money?

The oil royalty enjoyed by the Terengganu state government since 1975 until Barisan Alternatif took over in 2000 did not help to alleviate poverty nor did it help to bring about any significant development in the state. One wonders where all the money went.

As for the suit, for the state government to settle the case out of court (withdrawing the suit) will inevitably create two significant problems. Firstly, the Umno-led government will be branded as a traitor by the rakyat for not pursuing with what is rightly theirs (that being the agreement between Terengganu and Petronas for a five percent royalty payment to the former ).

Secondly, the withdrawal of the suit will see Umno members of the Terengganu state legislative assembly losing the source of their funds for their 'personal projects'. The is due to the fact that royalty payments are paid in cash as per agreement viz twice a year as opposed to the current grant in-lieu of royalty which is supervised and closely monitored by the federal government.

On the other hand, the federal government, too, is not about to agree to the suit to be settled out of court as it will be detrimental to its integrity and fairness. Also, like state Umno legislators, I'm sure some federal ministers too would like to have a share of the windfall if the oil royalty payments are reinstated.

It is, thus, in the interest of both the state and federal governments to continue with the suit. In this way they will be free of any blame which the media will place upon the courts. Whichever way the court decides, the Terengganu state government stands to loose.

Would anyone like to guess the court's decision? Be my guest.