An opposition-ruled state is to sue Malaysia's government to try to recover oil revenues worth millions of dollars, an official said Tuesday.
"The Terengganu state government has exhausted all (other) avenues to get back the oil royalty revenue," said Nasharuddin Mat Isa, secretary-general of the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) which rules the northeastern state.
"Within the next six months, we will take the government to court."
Nasharuddin told AFP a legal committee of party leaders and lawyers had been formed and PAS would enlist the help of other legal experts.
"We will try our best. We are skeptical of the legal system ... how independent it is. But we will take legal action," he said.
Nasharuddin also said PAS would continue to organize protests unless the government reverses its stand.
PAS took control of the Terengganu state assembly in elections in November 1999, in a bitter blow to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's nationally ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO).
In September the federal government seized control of the annual oil payments which previously went directly to the state government, sparking a storm of protest.
Kuala Lumpur says the state has no legal right to oil royalties since its oil reserves are too far offshore. It says the annual payment from national oil firm Petronas has always been a "goodwill contribution."
The federal government says it will spend the money directly to help the people of the state. Opposition parties accuse it of "hijacking" the payment and trying to undermine the Terengganu administration.
This year's payment is worth an estimated 810 million ringgit (213 million dollars).
In late November thousands of opposition supporters staged a peaceful protest against the takeover of the oil revenues -- KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
