KUALA LUMPUR: There are more capable prime minister candidates in Perikatan Nasional compared to the ruling pact, says Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
“Larut (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin) can do it, Pagoh (Tan Sri Muhhyiddin Yassin) can do it and Arau (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim) as well. On the other side, there is only one.
“Those from the other side can come here and stand a better chance to be the Prime Minister. It's that easy,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Sept 13).
The PAS president also claimed it was “haram” for the Federal Government to not honour the terms of the agreement on oil royalty for petroleum resources extracted from Kelantan and Terengganu.
“There was an agreement with PETRONAS and the state governments during Tun Abdul Razak’s tenure,” he said while referring to the Petroleum Development Act (PDA 1974) inked in the 1970’s.
He said while most of the leaders who were involved in the agreement have passed, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is still around.
“You can ask Tengku Razaleigh,” he said when responding to a question by Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) on why Perikatan did not resolve the issue when they were in power.
Sabah and Sarawak, the two other petroleum-producing states, have been receiving 5% oil royalty since 1976 under the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974.