KUALA LUMPUR -  Keep me or boot me out, it does not matter to me. That seems to be the stand that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is taking in defending Kelantan's claims for oil royalty.

The Gua Musang MP and former Finance minister said Umno has the right to sack him if it wishes to for siding with the PAS-led state government on the issue.

The Kelantan ruling party is embroiled in a dispute with the Barisan Nasional-led Federal government on oil royalty payments to the state.

Ku Li has no qualms about siding with PAS leaders (seen here at a gathring in Kota Baru) on the issue of oil royalty for Kelantan

"If they ask me to leave, I will leave. If they ask me to stay, I will," he told reporters after officiating at the launch of the the Institute of Democratic and Economic Affairs (Idea) at the  Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial here on Monday.

Hot chilli taste

Tengku Razaleigh, the founding chairman of national petroleum corporation Petronas, had  repeatedly said that there is no such thing as  wang ehsan, or compassionate funds, and Kelantan as well as all other states in the country are entitled to oil royalty.

Asked about his frequent clashes with Umno and the Barisan over the issue, he replied by quoting the Malay proverb:

"Siapa yang makan cili dialah rasa pedas  (Those who take the chilly will feel how hot it tastes)."

He said it was not his personal stand but a provision in the Petroleum Development Act.

He said all the laws embodied in the Act were the wishes of (Malaysia's secnd prime minister) Razak Hussein.

"He wanted it to be that way. I have nothing to do with it," Tengku Razaleigh said, adding that the original purpose of the Act was to ensure poor states in Malaysia received benefits.

Improve ties or lose it all

He advised Petronas  to comply with agreements signed with the states, adding that there is too much power in Federal hands.

He said the Federal government should improve ties with states, starting with oil royalties.

“It’s a question of credibility and public confidence," he said, adding that as an Umno member his greatest fear is that the people will kick it out of power if it fails to meet their demands.

Petronas recently announced the appointment of Shamsul Azhar Abbas as its president and chief executive officer. - Malaysian Mirror View MM video