No selective restrictions on Terengganu’s oil royalty, says Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR: Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has denied claims that the federal government imposed selective restrictions on oil royalties for Terengganu.

Fahmi, who is also the government spokesman, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the federal government has provided and will continue to extend assistance to the state, similar to the Wang Ehsan by previous administrations.

“The allegation is not true. We just want to ensure that all allocations directly reach the intended projects because the funds belong to the people and must return to them through the right channels, with the specified projects implemented.

“This ensures smooth project implementation and also avoids issues in fund management. We don’t want funds to be received but projects left undone,” the Lembah Pantai MP told reporters today.

Fahmi said this after attending a programme to distribute engine lubricant oil to 150 taxi and e-hailing drivers in the Lembah Pantai constituency here.

He was asked to comment on Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s claims that the federal government had imposed selective restrictions on oil royalties for the state.

During his winding-up speech on the state’s 2025 budget on Thursday, Samsuri claimed that all expenditure involving royalties for Terengganu now requires case-by-case approval from the finance ministry.

Meanwhile, on a statement by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin calling for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the cost and execution of the prime minister’s overseas trips, Fahmi said the former prime minister “has missed the bus”.

“He can ask (MACC to investigate), but I want to point out that Tan Sri ‘has missed the bus’. We’ve already issued detailed statements on the expenses. In fact, Anwar’s intent to charter a special flight was aimed at cutting costs and time, saving the government over RM900,000,” he said.

Fahmi, who is PKR information chief, also denied media reports that the party’s disciplinary board would finalise action against Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim today following his criticisms of the government.

“I have not been informed. Usually, for the party, the disciplinary board process involves a meeting, where (the result) is then presented at the political bureau meeting and central leadership council. To my knowledge, no meeting is scheduled for today,” he said.