KUCHING: Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) can collaborate harmoniously for mutual benefit, reflecting a strategic partnership rather than competition, says Premier Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Addressing perceptions that cooperation between the two oil and gas giants might create intense rivalry detrimental to Sarawak, he clarified that PETRONAS, as the national oil company, plays a critical role in Malaysia’s oil and gas industry.
At the same time, he assured that Sarawak is committed to fostering collaboration while asserting its constitutional rights.
“Under the Federal Constitution, mining activities in this region fall within Sarawak’s jurisdiction, as outlined in the Ninth Schedule.
“The state’s rights must be respected in line with these provisions, meaning that permission must be sought before any extraction takes place. For example, one might say, ‘Assalamualaikum, may I proceed with the extraction?’” he said.
The Premier said this during a town hall session commemorating his eight years as Premier at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) last night (Jan 13).
He stressed that establishing PETROS is a strategic move to ensure Sarawak actively participates in managing and producing its natural resources, aligning with the state’s constitutional entitlements.
“PETROS functions as the sole aggregator for gas distribution in Sarawak. This is not about competition but about lawful cooperation,” he added.
Abang Johari also said that collaboration between PETROS and PETRONAS is important for advancing strategic projects such as the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiative in Mukah.
“Recently, during discussions with Japan’s Prime Minister, we agreed to cooperate on the CCS project. Sharing resources for mutual benefit is key — PETRONAS and Sarawak work together in the spirit of partnership,” he said.
Touching on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Abang Johari reaffirmed Sarawak’s absolute rights over its natural resources as stipulated in Article 47 of the Sarawak Constitution.
“Sarawak inherited its rights over state resources since Malaysia Day. We have the authority to manage these resources and collaborate with others as we see fit,” he added.
