Former Kelantan Umno deputy chief Annuar Musa was among the signatories of a petition on Kelantan’s claim for oil royalties.

According to Gerakan Bertindak Kembalikan Royalti Kelantan (Gegar) secretary Muhammad Hishammuddin Ghazali, Annuar signed the petition last night at the Bukit Jalil Nasional Stadium, where the FA Cup finals between Kelantan and Sime Darby was taking place.

Hishammuddin said Annuar’s support for the petition was a major boost to Kelantanese football fans, better known as the Red Warriors.

“His decision to sign the petition was made in his capacity as a true Kelantanese. Gegar’s struggle does not care whose side of the political fence you are on because we are demanding for our rights.

“Annuar’s signature is important for us to attract young people (who support the Kelantanese team),” said Hishammuddin.

10,000 signatures

Annuar is the Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) chairperson and formerly a major figure in Kelantan Umno.

Hishammuddin claimed that Annuar had urged Gegar to press on with its demands for the benefit of all Kelantanese.

NONE Gegar had set up a booth for two days at the Bukit Jalil Nasional Stadium. Hishammuddin said more than 10,000 signatures were collected during the weekend.

The Kelantan government claimed that Petronas owes the state RM800 million per annum from the Kelantan-Thailand offshore area since 2005.

It has filed a suit last year against Petronas for breaching the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 be failing to pay the state oil royalties.

Instead of oil royalties, Putrajaya said that it will only provide Kelantan wang ehsan , or goodwill payments.