KUCHING: The allegation made by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak branch chairman Chong Chieng Jen that the State government had reneged from its earlier demand on the 20 per cent royalty mooted during the late Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem’s tenure is deemed incorrect.
In a press statement issued here yesterday, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information chief, Dato Idris Buang said that Chong twisted the matter and tried to make it into a political ‘tug-of-war’ in their interest and new-found political advantage of being part of the Federal government.
“It is pretty well-known that the State government under the leadership of Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg has taken the efforts to take back all our infringed rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to a greater height and tenacity.
“He has spearheaded our cause into a more dynamic and better dimension whereby instead of the mere 20 per cent that Chong was talking about, Sarawak should have complete control under the concept of permanent sovereignty upon all its natural resources including oil and gas by virtue of its entrenched rights under the Federal Constitution read with all relevant laws including our State Mining Ordinance, the Land Code and so on .
“Sarawak has the liberty to exercise all its inherent rights and power as owner of its natural resources, and therefore any other entity that may claim any right or interest in this regard has nothing more than a lesser position which is subservient to that of Sarawak. Hence, Sarawak is now pursuing the most equitable, just and fair as well as appropriate recognition and treatment towards its rights and interests for all the oil and gas that have been exploited from its land and territorial domain,” said Idris.
He also believed that the so-called ‘New Deal Agreement’ proposed by Chong and Baru Bian of PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) before the 14th General Election concluded did not receive any response from the State government because it was viewed by many as purely an election gimmick.
“The new development (Petronas suit) more or less has ignited our resolve in solidarity to defend our rights to the fullest through only Sarawak based political parties, namely PBB, PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak), SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party) and Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP).
“It makes Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) comprising DAP and PKR to appear rather confused akin to being ‘torn between two lovers’ as on one hand, they want to appear as fighting for Sarawak but on the other hand they may have to ‘kow-tow’ to their political higher-ups in the Federal government which may not be in line with that of Sarawak’s interests.
“So, they are in a dilemna. However, and whatever it is, by and large, the people of Sarawak do realise that only the duly elected government of Sarawak led by PBB have the edge and capability to advance Sarawak’s case effectively. Chong’s recent allegation on a possible conspiracy between the CM and PH leadership as appeared on primetime RTM news was rather wild and outrageous,” said PBB Information chief.
He added that the State government had in March asserted its rights in relation to petroleum resources and was supposed to assume full regulatory authority on upstream and downstream activities in July.
“To realise our own efforts and endeavour, the State government had formed its own local oil and gas company, Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros), for this purpose to enjoy greater rights over their petroleum resources in line with MA63,” concluded Idris.
