KUCHING, March 3 2026: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is urged to table a motion in Parliament to repeal the Petroleum Development Act 1974, which many in Sarawak and Sabah view as having eroded Borneo rights over natural resources.
PBK president Voon Lee Shan: As head of government, Anwar must understand that Malaysia is facing what can only be described as a political and constitutional war in our own backyard.
“Leadership begins at home. National unity must be strengthened internally before preaching justice abroad,” Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan reminded in a statement today.
He said he understands that the prime minister plans to table a motion in Parliament to condemn the Israeli-US attack on Iran.
He urged the prime minister not to allow external geopolitical posturing to distract from pressing domestic constitutional responsibilities.
“PBK has consistently upheld the principle of peace and rejects war in all forms. However, while the prime minister focuses on conflicts thousands of miles away, a far more serious political and constitutional crisis is unfolding within our own nation — in Sarawak and Sabah.
“As head of government, he must understand that Malaysia is facing what can only be described as a political and constitutional war in our own backyard.
“This dispute involves the Sarawak government and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) on one side, and the federal government together with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) on the other.
“At the heart of the dispute are the PDA74, and Continental Shelf Act 1966 (CSA66),”Voon said,adding that these two federal laws are being legally scrutinised in relation to Sarawak’s constitutional rights and ownership over oil and gas resources within its territorial waters and continental shelf.
He said the outcome of the legal challenge by the Sarawak government could determine who truly owns and controls the petroleum resources off the shores of Sarawak and Sabah.
“This is not a minor administrative disagreement. This is a fundamental constitutional question affecting state rights, federal-state relations, and the economic future of Borneo territories under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) framework.
“The prime minister should understand the people of Sarawak and Sabah are increasing heard that MA63 is not a valid treaty and now with ownership of oil off shores of Borneo are in dispute.
“He should forget about wars in the Middle East, but, the political and constitutional war in own backyard.
“You are not able to save the Middle East and are not in any position to stop the war but you can with your power or authority stop the political and constitutional wars before the federal court over the dispute of oil and gas that was once the properties of Sarawak and Sabah,” Voon said.
Voon also noted that Sabah government is still not heard about its stand of the suit filed by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government before the federal court.
As such, he added PBK has contracted and encouraged concerned individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sabah to apply to the courts to participate as amicus curiae (friends of the court) — the correct legal term — so that broader constitutional perspectives can be heard in proceedings affecting the rights of the people of Sarawak and Sabah.
