Kelantan Tuntut Royalti Minyak RM1 Bilion

Kerajaan negeri Kelantan akan membuat tuntutan sebanyak RM1 bilion kepada kerajaan pusat untuk bayaran royalti minyak yang didakwa tertunggak sejak 2004. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perancangan Ekonomi, Kewangan dan Kebajikan negeri, Datuk Husam Musa berkata Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat akan menulis surat rasmi kepada Perdana Menteri berhubung perkara itu. Katanya, menurut laporan Jabatan Perdana Menteri, anggaran pengeluaran petroleum di Kelantan dalam satu tahun adalah RM2.5 bilion.

Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas mesyuarat exco hari ini, Husam berkata, Kelantan mula menngeluar minyak sejak 2004 dan sepatutnya mendapat royalti seperti Sabah, Sarawak dan Terengganu. Menurutnya, adalah satu perkara yang sangat memalukan jika kerajaan pusat tidak dapat membayar wang royalti itu lebih-lebih lagi kerajaan pusat kini memperkenalkan konsep 1Malaysia, yang mengutamakan rakyat.

Sementara itu, ahli Parlimen Machang Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata pakatan pembangkang akan memainkan isu royalti minyak itu dalam kempen pilihanraya kecil DUN Manek Urai. "Sekiranya negeri-negeri yang lain ini mendapat royalti petroleum, mengapa tidak Kelantan...sekiranya Najib benar-benar ikhlas, saya cadangkan beliau membayar kembali royalti petroleum hak Kelantan," katanya kepada pemberita di lobi Parlimen.

PAS Leader Tells Party Deputy President To ‘Quit And Join Umno’

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has lashed out at Nasharuddin Mat Isa over his push for unity talks with Umno and told him it is better for him to leave the party. “Leave PAS and join Umno and that will make things easier for everybody,” a furious Nik Aziz said yesterday.

He also described Nasharuddin’s push for unity talks with Umno as “rubbish” and “immoral”.

Nasharuddin, when contacted, declined to comment. Other PAS leaders, however, said Nik Aziz’s outburst was not proper and urged him to talk to Nasharuddin. Party secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, meanwhile, said there could be no unity government talks without PKR and DAP being involved.

Huff And Puff Over Rule On Smoking

The Public Service Department (PSD) and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies. While the PSD wants de­­partment heads to strictly monitor the rule, Cuepacs feels the rights of smokers, both employees and customers, should be safeguarded. The PSD said government servants were prohibited from smoking at any place in a government premises. This includes areas such as toilets, corridors, canteens, car parks and pantries.

“Disciplinary action will be taken against those who violate this rule,” it said in response to a query from The Star. The rule also covers Telekom, Tenaga Nasional and Pos. The PSD was responding to calls from the public that a directive be issued to government servants to bar them from lighting up at their work stations or in the vicinity.

The PSD said there was already a provision under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations (Amend­ment) 2008 on this. Those who contravene provisions under the regulations can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed up to two years. Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the blanket rule was unfair and called on the Government to provide designated rooms for smokers.

Stadium Runtuh

Stadium Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu telah siap dibina pada tahun 2008. Upacara perasmian pembukaannya telah disempurnakan oleh Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong pada 17 Mei 2008.

Acara sukan pertama yang berlangsung di stadium tersebut ialah Temasya Sukan Malaysia Ke-11 (SUKMA XI).

Malangnya stadium yang megah dan indah itu telah mengalami kerosakan yang teruk akibat bumbung stadium telah runtuh pada 2hb Jun 2009. Insiden keruntuhan stadium tersebut merupakan satu tragedi yang memalukan dalam negara dan juga antarabangsa.