Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said today Kelantan is capable of managing federal fund either in the form of oil royalty or compassionate payment.

He said that the state government had the experience in administering Kelantan as it was already doing so for the past 20 years.

"We can manage any federal fund without the need for it to be channelled to the Federal Development Department (JPP)," he told reporters after delivering his Friday lecture at Dataran Ilmu in Kota Bharu.

He was commenting on the proposal by the federal government to channel the compassionate fund payment through the JPP and not directly to the state government.

The payment is expected to be made from next month.

"Our officers are trustworthy and they don't engage in corruption," Nik Abdul Aziz said.

Asked on his statement yesterday in which he invited Umno to sit together and discuss religious issues, Nik Abdul Aziz said he was prepared to discuss with Umno anytime.

He said he would like to ask Umno why it rejected PAS' Islamic struggle.

If Umno could explain that PAS' Islamic struggle was wrong, he was prepared to accept Umno, he added.

- Bernama