Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said this was discussed during a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur recently.

“Without a state government representative in the MTN, coordination of development programmes between the federal and state governments is difficult, especially in managing projects or matters under the federal government’s administration, including oil royalty,” Samsuri was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Samsuri said Mahathir was positive towards the proposal, adding that the Cabinet would discuss the matter.

On Jan 31, the Prime Minister’s Office named Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali as chairman of MTN in Kelantan, another state under PAS control.

Samsuri meanwhile said his meeting with Mahathir also discussed the oil royalty payment to Terengganu.

He said for 2018, the state had received the total amount.

“With this payment, we have received RM643 million in oil royalty for 2018 after deducting the outstanding debt of RM63 million. I wish to thank the prime minister for listening to our appeal,” he said.