KUCHING: In forcing Sarawak to take it to court over unpaid state sales tax on petroleum, Petronas (including its controllers) has shown its true colours.
If it cared for and respected Sarawak, the corporation would have consented to paying the tax instead of waiting to be sued.
Clearly, its tactic is to use the court to try to avoid giving in to Sarawak’s demand.
Political analyst Datuk Peter Minos observed that Petronas which had made billions of ringgit annually for decades from Sarawak’s oil and gas has been giving much of its profits to the federal government to develop Malaya instead of sharing a reasonable amount with Sarawak which owns the resources.
“Now, they are challenging Sarawak’s demand for payment of the sales tax. So be it, Sarawak will win, survive and go on,” he said.
Minos remarked that Petronas appeared to be arrogant and had forgotten that it had been making billions from the state’s resources.
“Petronas has made excuses after excuses for not paying the state tax. The excuses are impossible to accept,” he told.
He added that in if Sarawak wins the legal contest (and most likely it will), extra revenue would be available for the state’s socio-economic development.
However, if Sarawak loses (which is not likely if the laws are properly read and interpreted), Sarawak could still be seen as “victorious” because Sarawak would have seen that their government and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had stood very firm in fighting for their rights and interests.
“The people will also see and perceive that the state government does not want to be bullied and treated badly anymore. It is very good that Sarawak has made a firm stand because from 1963 until now, the state has absorbed a lot of hard knocks from the federal side. Up until now, Sarawak has taken them all with a smile and little complaint. Now, the state will do no such thing,” he said.
