KUCHING: Sarawak’s participation in the state oil and gas sector along with appointing Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) as the sole gas aggregator is within the rights of the state.
In stressing this, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he is aware that there are certain quarters who are looking to politicise the issue, arguing that Sarawak is taking away the rights of Putrajaya.
“What I am concerned about is that this issue is being politicised. They are saying Sarawak is claiming everything under the sun, even though this (O&G rights) is enshrined under Malaysia Agreement 1963 and our constitution.
“Restoration is the correct word – restoring the rights that were eroded intentionally or unintentionally. If there are some who are thinking otherwise, it means they are not sincere and are looking to take advantage of their strength to take away our rights.
“It could be the other way around – and Sarawakians are asking, ‘are we being colonised again?’. This (O&G rights) is our right,” he said.
He said this when speaking to Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, co-hosts of the Keluar Sekejap podcast which aired on Monday (July 22).
Abang Johari said Sarawak is capitalising on Putrajaya’s political instability and leveraging their way to deprive others of their rights, instead looking to inject fresh impetus in the industry, where its outcome can be shared between the parties.
“When you (Putrajaya) are sincere, they would let Sarawak have its rights (to O&G) and work together with us. This is what I am doing, we are being sincere.
“We are implementing our rights. If there are negative perceptions on this, it would pose a danger to the federation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Premier said Sarawak faced challenges prior to enacting a law to appoint a gas aggregator whereby it could not obtain the supply of gas from Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS).
“We did not get the gas, they (PETRONAS) did not want to supply it to us. When Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) wanted the gas, they refused.
“When it comes to the price of gas, it was them (PETRONAS) who decided. So, there was an anomaly because Sarawak rights to gas distribution predates Malaysia,” he said.
Abang Johari said an example of this was the presence of piped gas being supplied to homes in Miri and in Seria, Brunei.
“The law is there, we are exercising the law and in the gas industry, we will work together with PETRONAS, we also need them,” he said.
