KUCHING: Sarawak will have full control over its carbon trading activities in the state as listed under Article 95E of the Federal Constitution.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has been putting serious efforts in protecting and fighting for the rights of Sarawak; not merely empty talk or promises.
He said some quarters have questioned about carbon trading in Sarawak; others claimed that it is a shared right.
However, he said, he has made it clear that it is Sarawak’s right.
“Some people, including our friends at the federal level, claimed that carbon is a ‘shared right’ (hak kongsi).
“But, I said no, it is not – it is our right. This is based on Article 95E of the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Referring to Article 95E of the Federal Constitution, he said, subject to Clause (5), under Article 91 and under Article 95A of the Federal Constitution, the government shall not be required to follow the policy formulated by the National Land Council or by the National Council for Local Government, as the case may be; but the representative of the State shall not be entitled to vote on questions before the Council.
Abang Johari, who is also PBB President and GPS Chairman was speaking at the 2023 Kuching Zone Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Special Convention at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here Saturday.
In addition, he said, the state had amended Sarawak’s Land Code, with new definition of “land”, which will allow the state government to control the airspace and properties above the surface of the land, as well as the seabed of the state’s continental shelf.
The amendment also allowed the state government to regulate the use of land onshore and offshore, as well as on the sea bed which forms the continental shelf of Sarawak, for the management and storage of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
“Carbon trading and storage are under Sarawak Land Code so, anything to do with land is our state’s right,” he said.
“The federal government will have no authority over carbon trading in Sarawak.
They (federal) only have (power) to regulate and position Malaysia in the international carbon trading protocol, since we are just a constituent state in Malaysia,” he added.
