By Simon Peter
KUCHING, Feb 22, 2025: Deputy Minister of Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and State-Feneral Relations Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (picture) called allegations by Pending State Assemblywoman on Sarawak’s position on its oil and gas resources as merely a political stunt. 
She said Yong’s allegations that there was a betrayal of Sarawak’s rights over Petroleum resources is malicious falsehood to the extreme.
She said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has always been steadfast in its commitment to defending Sarawak’s rights and autonomy, particularly in relation to
our natural resources.
“Our stance has always been that both Federal and State laws must be respected and must co-exist. The PDA 1974 and the Sarawak Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016 (DGO 2016) are both in force, but this does not mean, and we never say that the PDA 1974 is absolute.
“The PDA 1974, like any other laws, is still subject to the Federal Constitution,” Hasidah said.
“Under Item 8(j) of the Federal List of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Government’s control over petroleum is still subject to Item 2(c) of the State List, which grants Sarawak authority over
land and its natural resources, that is, through prospecting licences, mining leases and certificates.
“This fundamental constitutional structure remains unchanged, and the GPS Government has never said that PDA 1974 cancels or overrides Sarawak’s laws or rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Over the last ten years, Sarawak has regained much rights over petroleum,” she said, adding that since 2020, Sarawak has regained full control over onshore mining.
Hasidah said a mining lease has been issued under the Oil Mining Ordinance of Sarawak to PETROS to explore for and produce petroleum in the Adong Kechik West area of Miri oil production will begin in a few months’ time.
“This will mark the first time in over 50 years that oil production is taking place on land in Sarawak,” she said.
She added until the formation of Petros, Sarawak has no rights or equity in any of the oil and gas fields in the offshore areas of the State.
“But today,Petros has equity in five oil and gas producing blocks in the Continental Shelf and is the third largest oil and gas company in Malaysia and has an annual revenue of RM 4billion per annum.
“Petros will continue to grow, as it is involved in oil and gas explorations in five offshore blocks
and potentially will spearhead the development of rich gas reserves in the waters of western Sarawak.
“All these facts show that the GPS government is regaining inalienable rights over its oil and gas
resources, PDA notwithstanding.
“In the downstream activities, Sarawak will control the distribution of gas in the State through the Distribution of Gas Ordinance, 2016.
“The GPS government will ensure that our gas resources will be used sustainably because the current trend of exporting 94% of the natural gas produced in the state is not a sustainable use of depleting resources.
“We have been assured of at least 1.2bmmsfd of gas to support the State Gas Roadmap which would enable the State to attract more foreign investments, support greater power generation
and to propel Sarawak to be the clean energy hub of ASEAN as announced by the Prime Minister.
“All these efforts of the GPS Government prove that it has not and will not betray the people of Sarawak,” Hasidah said.
No comments:
Post a Comment