MARANG: The Terengganu state government will continue its efforts to claim oil royalties of over RM1 billion from the federal government.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the amount included RM700 million in royalties for last year and this year.
"(The state) government was asked to submit its claim based on the programme and current financial needs before it could be deliberated.
"While there was no specific discussion on royalties, I have voiced this matter to the Finance Minister II (Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan) on the current needs that arise every month.
"I was informed that the ministry would deliberate on the matter on a monthly basis," he said after launching the DAR Terengganu Sports Tournament in Kelulut, here, today.
Up to last October, the federal government was supposed to pay RM1.5 billion in royalties to Terengganu.
However, the state government reportedly received only RM510 million, the lowest mount compared to previous years between 2018 and 2022.
The federal government was reported to have channeled RM172.3 million to Terengganu and RM58.6 million to Kelantan in April.