Rightful Owner

They deserve it more

Justice according to Islamic tenet means putting a thing in its rightful place and justice is not merely about equality since the latter is not just if it is not assigned to its proper place. Thus, to be just, those in power particularly the government needs to look at prevailing situation to put everything particularly the interest, rights and privileges of the people are taken into consideration. Denying the people of something which are their rights and not just privileges is unjust.

Oil royalties are basically the rights of the people from which it is excavated therefore any states in Malaysia which produce oil and gas have the rights to the royalties irrespective of the government which administer that particular states. I may be ignorant of the prevailing laws regarding oil and gas royalties but laws which are unjust and oppressive certainly deserved to be repealed and if not repealed ,amended to suit justice.

The government's decision to review and consider awarding royalties to Kelantan raises questions as to the reasons why the state has been deprived of such money for so long. The government in agreeing to consider the royalties is an admission that all these years Kelantan indeed is a producer of oil and gas albeit in small quantities. Dragging and prolonging the matter is unjust to the deserving state since it is in dire needs of funds to develop the state although time and again the Federal government under the ruling coalition denies it has been sidelining the state but in reality it is indeed the case as what happened to all the states under the opposition as what really occurred to Sabah between 1985 to 1994.

Any Kelantanese or Malaysians should be united in asking for something that belong to them. I t is surprising when those Kelantanese MPs in the ruling coalition or those aligned to them are keeping mum on such matter. By acquiescing to what the Federal government is doing is a sin to their people and state since the royalties are in the first place originate from their state therefore they have the right to ask for it.

This entry is not trying to tell them what they need to do but this is first and foremost is about justice , integrity and good governance. Dragging their feet on such matter means the federal government is openly robbing the state or any other states in the same mould of their resources and rights to development. Such is not augur well with democratic principle and those in the ruling coalition need to reminded of such sacred foundation of democracy.