KUCHING, June 10 — Datuk Husam Musa should stay out of Sarawak’s affairs, state Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders said in denying the PAS vice-president’s claim that their reason for demanding higher oil royalties is to win voter support ahead of the coming state election expected by 2016.

Several assemblymen polled by The Malay Mail Online insisted that their purpose of seeking a revision to the state’s oil royalty payout is to boost development in the hornbill state.

Semop assemblyman Abdullah Saidol, who forwarded the motion seeking higher oil and gas royalties during the state legislative assembly in May, said Husam has no business deciding what is right or wrong for Sarawak.

He pointed out that although Sarawak has been an oil-producing state since the 1900s, it is still lagging far behind many other states in the country in terms of infrastructure development.

He said by requesting more oil royalties from the federal government, the extra funds could help close Sarawak’s rural and urban gap.

“We, as the people's representatives in BN, are obliged to and are merely voicing out sentiments that a majority of Sarawakians would agree [with]. Our request is for the people and by the people of Sarawak.

“Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) move to politically manipulate the royalty issue is deemed an effort to deny the Sarawakians’ wish for more development funds from the federal government,” Abdullah told The Malay Mail Online.

Husam during the “Borneo Move: Oil for All” seminar in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday had contested BN’s sincerity in the demand for higher royalty payments, claiming that the fervour shown from those in the ruling pact could merely be an election ploy.

Sarawak must hold statewide elections by June 2016. Speculation is rife that the polls could be called as early as next year.

The PAS vice-president said he fears that BN lawmakers may not continue to pressure the federal government once the pact recaptures the state during the polls.

“Don’t get carried away by Sarawak’s claim for 20 per cent royalty. I don’t think they are serious. They might go along with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak if he promises higher royalty, but they might keep quiet after the election,” said Husam referring to Sarawak BN elected representatives.

Baleh assemblyman Tan Sri James Jemut Masing joined his BN colleague in disagreeing with Husam, and reminded the PAS leader that both Sarawak and the federal government are run by the ruling pact.

He said Husam, who is also a Kelantan-based assemblyman, should not compare his home-state with Sarawak as the former is run by PAS.

As a PAS-led government, Masing said, Kelantan’s objectives would clearly run contrary to the federal government’s.

“When the twain doesn’t meet, you cannot expect sympathetic hearing to a request. I am confident that the federal will kindly consider Sarawak's request one way or the other,” he said.

Santubong MP Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar agreed with Masing, and pointed out that Sarawak was among the country’s first oil-producing states.

He said it was unfair for Husam to compare Sarawak with PAS-led Kelantan, which only discovered oil in the 1990s.

“Husam cannot compare Sarawak with Kelantan. Sarawak has been the recipient of the royalties since oil was first found there in 1909,” said Wan Junaidi.

Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah said the federal government has always delivered on its promises to the state.

“That is why we have full confidence that the oil and gas royalties for Sarawak will be reviewed and increased or more development fund.

“It is a sincere promise by Najib and not an election ploy for the coming state election,” he assured.

On May 6, the Sarawak legislative assembly passed the resolution for an increase in oil royalty, with the unanimous support from all its 71 lawmakers, including the 15 PR representatives and one Independent.

At a Gawai celebration in Miri last Monday, Najib said the federal government would consider the Sarawak’s request for higher oil and gas royalties.

Following Sarawak’s move, Kelantan had also asked other oil-producing states — Terengganu and Sabah — to follow suit.

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has however, passed the buck on to Putrajaya, insisting it is not within its power to increase oil royalties, adding that it will continue to abide by the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA).

Kelantan and the oil giant have been battling the issue in court since 2010, which has yet to be resolved.

The Kelantan government has made claims for RM12 billion in royalty payments from Petronas which was paid to the federal government as only Kelantan, where petroleum was first discovered in the 1990s while under PAS rule, has received nothing in royalties.

In the run up to the 13th general elections, opposition pact PR had dangled the promise of increasing the oil royalty, especially to Kelantan, as part of its manifesto.