Sarawak PH senators support Sarawak's demand over oil and gas resources

 

KUCHING, March 20,2025: The Sarawak government has the support of two Pakatan Harapan (PH) senators over claims of oil and gas resources found within Sarawak’s boundary.

Abun Sui Anyit (left) and Roderick Wong says that the issue on Sarawak's oil and gas often distorted

Senators Abun Sui Anyit and Roderick Wong Siew Lead said that Sarawak’s claim to regain full rights to its oil and gas resources is based on historical facts, valid legislation, and the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 

“Therefore, the narrative of Sarawak demanding more should not be raised,” they said in a joint statement today.

They said the issue of Sarawak’s oil and gas rights is often distorted by certain parties, citing as an example how a former treasury official had misinterpreted  historical facts and legislation relating to Sarawak’s rights.

They urged the state government as the representative mandated by the people to fight for Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and MA63. 

He said the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council 1963 (MTPMA63) chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has successfully resolved 11 demands of Sabah and Sarawak in MA63 so far.

“The demands made are also based on the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA1974) which was drafted and agreed upon by members of Parliament including members of Parliament from Sarawak in 1974.

“We hope that certain parties should not try to raise a narrative that could mislead Malaysians that Sarawak is demanding more,” they said.

Abun and Wong said that the discussions are on-going to return Sarawak’s rights which were agreed upon by the founding fathers of Malaysia.

They said only in the era of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that many of Sarawak’s rights in MA63 were returned.

Ibrahim, with extensive experience, is the right person to take charge of energy, oil and gas industry

KUCHING, March 17 2025: Satok State Assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki has been made the Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications in-charge of Sarawak Energy Berhad and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) after he was sworn-in this morning.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg (seated, second from left) speaking to reporters.
 

Pantai Damai State Assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi moved to Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator of the Regional Development Agencies, Kuching North City Hall and Islamic Affairs).

Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the appointments of the two deputy ministers took effect today.

“The minor reshuffle aims to strengthen the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government’s service delivery to the people and to enhance the energy sector including investment in the oil and gas industry,” he said.

He said these will enable the state government to effectively strategise its efforts towards Sarawak’s vision of becoming a developed and high income region under the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.

According to him, Ibrahim will chair a ministerial committee that will be responsible for Petros to manage and coordinate the gas development of the state

"We need individuals with backgrounds in the fields of law, corporate and concessions to make our gas industry a success, especially the implementation of the gas industry roadmap.

"He has the advantage because he has extensive experience. He has served at Petronas, has served as a legal officer at Petronas, and has been a member of the Petronas Board of Directors," he stressed.

He explained that this experience allows Ibrahim to assist in coordinating and establishing strategic cooperation with Petronas in efforts to implement the gas roadmap, as well as to make collaboration between Petronas and Petros successful based on the terms of the commercial agreement to be signed between the two parties, especially negotiations with Petronas.

He said the portfolio in charge of SEB is to focus on energy development, renewable energy and also increasing energy supply in efforts to become a green energy hub in Southeast Asia (ASEAN), he said.

 

 

 

 

Satok rep sworn-in as deputy state minister

KUCHING, March 17 2025: Satok State Assemblyman, Datuk Ibrahim Baki (picture) was took his oath office as a deputy state minister before the Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at the Astana Negeri this morning.

Present at the ceremony were Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg, his deputies Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, state ministers and deputy miinisters.

Ibrahim, 67, a first term state assemblyman, was elected as a vice president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) by securing the highest number of votes at the party’s triennial delegates convention last month.

He secured 910 votes, followed by Minister of Utlility and Telecommunications Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi with 902 votes, Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (786 votes) and Deputy  Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh (687 votes).

In the December 2021 state election, he won the Satok seat by securing 6,991 votes.

His two opponents,  Awang Badele Awang Ali of Parti Bumi Kenayalang (PBK) who secured 415 votes and PKR's Dr Nor Irwan Ahmad Nor collected 958 votes. Both lost their election deposit.

Ibrahim is Gabungan Parti Sarawak(GPS) Chief Whip in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.

He was a long time deputy chairman of Satok PBB branch, before being elected as the chairman late last year, taking over from  Abang Johari.

The premier is now PBB Gedong branch chairman upon his election as the Gedong State Assemblyman.

A lawyer by training, Ibrahim is active in the corporate world. He is the chairman of the Sarawak Energy Berhad and a former board member of Petroliam Nasional Berhad.

Speculations of him going to be sworn-in as the deputy minister started to spread last week, with the local media organisations quoting “reliable” sources for their breaking news.

A source from Astana Negeri also confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony would place today, March 17, and that Ibrahim would be made a deputy minister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarawak DAP chief secures second highest number of votes in DAP's CEC election

KUCHING, March 16, 2025: Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen garnered the second highest number of votes in the election for the 2025-2028 central executive committee of the DAP in Petaling Jaya today.

The Stampin Member of Parliament garnered 2,631 votes, second after Damansara Member of Parliament Govind Singh Deo, who secured 2,785 votes.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alice Lau, who is also Lanang Member of Parliament, came in 16^th position, obtaining 2,165 votes.

Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament,Dr Kelvin Yii, however, failed to get elected into the 30-member CEC.

Chong, who is also Padungan State Assemblyman, was appointed as one of the five DAP vice chairmen.

The others are Teo Nie Ching, Ng Suee Lim, Syahredzan Johan and J Arul Kumar

Govind, who is also the Digital Minister, is the new chairman, taking over from former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is now made an adviser.

The deputy chairman is the Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming while Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook remains as the secretary-general.

Alice is made the assistant international secretary while the international secretary is Kasthuri Patto.

 

PBK wants GPS government to ban Malayan parties from contesting in Sarawak

 

By Henry Lee

KUCHING: Parti Bumi Kenyalang today urged the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to amend the Sarawak Constitution to prohibit or to bar Malayan political parties from fielding candidates in the state and parliamentary elections in the state.

Its president Voon Lee Shan (picture) said the elections should be made a state affairs and no political parties from Malaya should interfere with Sarawak elections directly or indirectly.

“May a motion be passed in the coming sitting of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly to remind the people of Sarawak that it was not in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 to allow political parties from Malaya to enter and participate in the political affairs of Sarawak,” Voon said in a statement.

He said DAP was one of the earliest Malayan political parties to set foot in Sarawak which was brought in by a few former members of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) in the 1970s.

He said other  political parties from Malaya including PKR, and PAS also entered Sarawak to contest seats in Sarawak.

Voon, a former DAP’s State Assemblyman for Batu Lintang, explained that when Malaysia was formed, it was never the intention of the Sarawakians to invite or to have political parties from Malaya to come and contest for state or parliament seats.

 It was agreed that seats for Sarawak in parliament are for Sarawak and never been meant to be contested or taken away by political parties from Malaya, adding that at the moment Sarawak is allocated with 31 seats while Sabah, 25 seats.

“If a seat is won by a political party like DAP or PKR, then this seat is taken away from Sarawak for a political party from Malaya. 

“This should not be accepted. The taking away of seats from Sarawak has diminished the bargaining power of Sarawak in parliament. 

“The voice of Sarawak was hardly heard because Malaya controls parliament,” Voon,  a senior lawyer, said, noting that at the moment Malayan political parties are also contesting state seats in Sarawak and this should be stopped now.