KUCHING: Star Party Sarawak (STAR) hopes in the coming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting next month, the State Government will reject the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974, Territorial Sea Act, and Constitutional Amendment A354 Sec 2.
Its President Lina Soo stressed the acts are constitutional only in West Malaysia, but not applicable in the State.
“The three acts had never been moved for adoption in the House as required under Article 2(b) of the Federal Constitution,” she said in a press conference at Telang Usan Hotel,here yesterday.
She explained Sarawak has internal sovereignty, namely legal ownership, economic rights, and property rights of its oil, gas and minerals in its Continental Shelf as a coastal State protected under the MA63 and the Federal Constitution.
“The Federal Government has the political rights and external sovereignty only in the context of jurisdiction and administrative control in dealing with other nations at international levels, but it does not give the federal government ownership, economic rights, and unfettered control over Sarawak’s sea and natural resources,” she said.
Therefore, she said it is unconstitutional for the Federal Government to take over ownership and economic rights of Sarawak’s resources by shifting its boundary and sea in legislating the Territorial Sea Act 2012.
“This is the most opportune time to restore Sarawak’s internal sovereignty to put right its political boundary and as exclusive owner with economic and property rights on its petroleum assets onshore and offshore,” she said.
“The court action by Petronas is the ultimate litmus test for the internal sovereignty of a component State within a federation, as Sarawak’s authority and powers within its own territory are severely put to the test.”
