THE federal government has channelled RM400 million in petroleum payments to the Kelantan government for the year 2020 and 2021, said Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

He said the payment was made directly to the state government based on 5% of the state’s petroleum revenue.

Payment of RM200 million was made last year and for 2020, also RM200 million.

“This payment was made directly and 100% was channelled to the state government based on the current price of petroleum,” he told reporters after a briefing on Budget 2022 with Kelantan civil servants in Kota Darulnaim, Kota Baru, today.

Tengku Zafrul said the sum was a multi-fold increase on the amount paid in 2019, which was RM28 million.

In another development, Tengku Zafrul said the government had allocated RM2.39 billion this year for implementation of 351 development projects in Kelantan, compared to RM1.8 billion last year.

The projects included the construction of the Palekbang bridge, costing RM250 million, Mesra Rakyat projects (RM102 million) and the expansion of the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (RM483 million), he added. – Bernama, January 16, 2022.