KUALA LUMPUR: Former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (pic) today defended his 'controversial' stance on the Kelantan oil royalties issue, stating that he was just pointing out the relevant provision in the Petroleum Development Act 1974.

"It is not my stand. All I did was point out the provision. What the provision covers is in line with the wishes of the late former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. The provision is to ensure that the poor would benefit from oil revenues."

The former Petronas chairman added: "Petronas should honour their agreement and pay the royalties to the state government. It is pure and simple. I did not do all this, it is not about me or anybody. It is the law."

Asked if he was concerned that his stand on the oil royalties could jeopardise his UMNO membership, he said the party has every right to ask him to leave. "If they ask me to leave UMNO, I will leave. If they want me to stay, then I will stay."

Razaleigh further commented that party leaders shouldn't be angry with him for simply pointing out the legal provision. "Cuma orang yang makan cili rasa pedas. (Only those who eat chillies will feel the heat)."

Earlier, at the official launching of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial, the Gua Musang MP said all the plans behind the outfit are good.

He suggested that IDEAS could urge TV stations and newspapers to better educate people of their rights and responsibilities regarding the constitution, especially on the guarantee of fundamental freedoms.

"It is a good country and the constitution is in place for all. But, some people do not even understand what the constitution is all about."

He said that the nation's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman built up a system of good civil service, in which the people do not have to see "so-and-so" to get things done.

"This has been replaced by a domineering style of leadership where what you get done depends on who you know. Of course the rich and powerful have better connections.

"Ordinary Malaysians are disenfranchised of their rights to health, education and security. They are then patronised by leaders whose idea of public service is to go around like Father Christmas, doling out gifts of resources, which are really the property of the people.

"If you leave it to the government to pursue this policy, you cannot expect change. Young people and members of the public have to indicate to the government where it should go."

When asked why his speech sounded skewed against the administration, he said that it depends on how one would interpret it.

"I thought I was just voicing what a lot of people are talking about now. It is nothing new."

IDEAS was launched at the memorial as a tribute the 107th birthday of Tunku Abdul Rahman today. Its chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the outfit is a Malaysian think tank and independent non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy challenges.

"We are not biased politically. What we have planned in our activities and programmes will probably upset any party; not just the government, the opposition might get offended as well. We are talking about principals rather than about any political parties.

IDEAS was co-founded by Wan Saiful with founding president, Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, and founding director, Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad.