Kelantan Umno will step up efforts to explain to the people on the setting up of the special committee to carry out a fair and transparent study on the issue of cash payment from the

petroleum revenue paid to the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.

NONE Kelantan Umno chief Mustapa Mohamed said the explanation was crucial because there were certain parties who were giving a wrong picture aimed at confusing the people on the formation of the special committee.

"We leave it to the special committee to undertake the study and make its recommendation to the federal government on the issue of the cash payment," he told reporters after attending a gathering with hire car/taxi drivers in Kota Bharu today.

Mustapa, who is also the international trade and industry minister, said the special committee would also identify the states eligible to receive the cash payment, determine the method and quantum of cash payment to the states concerned.

On Aug 4, Prime Minister Najib Razak had announced the setting up of the special committee to be chaired by former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad, whose members would comprise legal experts from within and outside the country, representatives from the Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu state governments consented by the sultan of the states concerned.

Taxi drivers enlisted

Meanwhile, Mustapa said although Kelantan was now under the administration of the PAS government, the federal government would still assist by providing various facilities to hire car and taxi drivers in the state so that they could earn a comfortable income and offer the best service to the community.

He said he had received many complaints from hire car and taxi drivers about the failure of the state government to provide the best facilities to them including expanding the hire car and taxi terminal.

He called on them to assist by explaining to their passengers on the changes that needed to be made in the state so that the slow pace of development could be resolved.

- Bernama