Najib Abdul Razak said the federal government had never denied the rights of the people of Kelantan in whatever matter, including the cash payment claim from petroleum revenue.

The prime minister said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government was always fair and transparent towards all Malaysians.

“As a BN-led government, we must follow Allah’s commands. Among them, we must be fair in governing, and the BN government is indeed fair to the people,” he said in his speech at his breaking-of-fast with the people and handing-out of welfare aid to the recipients at SMK Dato Perdana in Bachok last night.

Also present were International Trade and Industry Minister and Kelantan BN chief Mustapa Mohamed and Deputy Finance Minister Dr Awang Adek Hussin, who is also Bachok Umno division chief.

Speaking in front of over 20,000 Bachok residents, Najib stressed that the federal government was impartial in meeting the needs of the people, whatever their political ideology.

“We are fair to all Malaysians because we fear Allah, and not other people. We do not deceive, that is why when the oil issue arose... it could not be resolved until now. (But) Datuk Pa (Mustapa), Awang Adek and I too have been targeted, accused of cheating the people of Kelantan. Here, in Kelantan and in this holy month of Ramadan, (we state that) we are not denying the rights of the Kelantan people.

“We want to be fair, transparent and open a new chapter for the people of Kelantan; that the federal government is not denying their rights even over a barrel of petroleum,” he said.

The prime minister said to resolve the issue of oil royalty cash payment, the federal government had set up a special committee to study and resolve the issue in a fair and transparent manner for the peninsula’s east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

Cash payment of five percent

“We must act based on the country’s constitution, taking into consideration where the oil wells are. Petronas will clarify where they are at sea. But we’ve decided a cash payment of five percent for Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.”

Najib said he had sent a letter to the Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V and Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to choose a representative to be part of the special committee.

He wants the representative to be someone who would not side any party but having “the spirit and soul of the Kelantan people”.

Najib also said that he was happy with the turnout at lastnight’s function and also at previous ones that he had attended, which showed increasing public support for BN.

He said the people of Kelantan wanted change and BN was prepared to bring about transformation including solving the clean water supply problem in the state.

At last night’s function, the prime minister also announced the building of Bachok Hospital which will begin next year.

BN will resolve water woes

Meanwhile, BN will resolve Kelantan water woes if it captures the state in the general election.

Najib said Kelantan people should not have water problem as they had been giving PAS the mandate since 1990.

"The BN government can solve this problem fast. While at the airport, I received a memorandum asking to resolve the water problem," he said before tarawih prayers at Kelantan Poverty Foundation in Kota Bharu last night attended by over 10,000 people.

Also present were Mustapa, Awang Adek and Ketereh BN parliamentary coordinator Annuar Musa.

Najib said the federal government would like to see Kelantan developed in an effort to implement national transformation for the benefit of the people.

The Malays of Kelantan should become the key platform in the transformation  efforts as the federal government did not discriminate opposition supporters.

"We are committed to help the people. These are the fruits of success and we want to be known as a successful Muslim nation."

He added programmes implemented by federal government are based on Islamic law.

- Bernama