Government ready to discuss oil royalty review with Sabah

The Federal Government is ready to discuss with Sabah for a review of the oil royalty, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said the state Barisan Nasional could discuss the mechanism of review and bring it to him and the Prime Minister for a discussion.

“We can sit down and discuss it, we have nothing to hide,” he said in response to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan's call for a mechanism to discuss the issue of oil royalty and come out with a win-win formula for all parties.

Muhyiddin said it was a good idea to discuss the issue properly as the opposition was making unreal promises that they will pay oil producing states 20% oil royalty, the moment they won the Government.

“As a responsible government, we will have to manage the peoples' wealth properly and whatever decision must be sustainable for the long term and not for a short term,” he said while opening the PBS congress here yesterday.

He said the Government had spent billions of ringgit for the development of the state through revenue from oil.

On PBS and other Barisan parties' call for share of the six seats (two parliament and four state seats) formerly held by Sabah Progressive Party which left Barisan, Muhyiddin said the issue could be resolved and there was no need for all parties to tussle for the seats.

He said the parties could make their recommendations through the state Barisan to be brought up with the national leadership.

“The main thing is for Barisan to win the seats back. All these can be negotiated,” he said, urging Barisan parties not to worry about candidates but to ensure that Barisan wins all seats.

Source: The Star