"We must never be afraid to stand firm to protect our state's rights"

KUCHING, Nov 9 2025: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) president Datuk John Tenewi has called on Sarawakians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)  to remain united in defending the state’s rights, saying that they must never be afraid to stand firm.

 ‘We must never let go without putting up a good and principled fight. We fight not with anger, but with conviction from our united hearts and that unity is our greatest strength,” he said today at a press conference attended by NGOs and Sarawak’s rights advocates.

He recalled that on Sept 27 this year TSI convened the “ Future Economy of Sarawak Forum” that unanimously adopted three resolutions.

He said one of the resolutions reminded the federal and Sarawak governments that the natural resources, including oil and gas found within the territory of Sarawak, rightfully belong to Sarawakians.

Tenewi, a former Malaysian diplomat, said the resources are not mere commodities to be traded away, but they are the lifeblood of the state’s economy, the foundation of its autonomy, and the inheritance of the younger generations.

“They symbolise not only development, but our determination; not only prosperity, but our pride; not only ownership, but our enduring Sarawakian spirit,” he said.

State’s rights activist Peter John Jaban, who was also present at the press conference, said that the time has come for Sarawak to take full control of its oil and gas resources.

He said since Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 billions of ringgits have flowed into the federal coffers with only a tiny percentage coming back.

“In the last six years, we have contributed more oil and gas revenue to Malaysia than any other

State,” he said, stressing “It is time to turn off that tap.”

He said this is not about the past, but the future.

“We are still the state in Malaysia with the largest reserves. We hold 60 per cent of the total and new oilfields are being discovered.

“We are still the country’s largest exporter of natural gas at over 90 per cent of the total,” Peter said.

“We are taking back our role as the nation’s gas aggregator. We have big plans and we are funding our own futures,” he said.

He reminded that despite being rich in natural resources Sarawak has the second highest rate of rural poverty in Malaysia after decades of neglect.

“We still need infrastructure to stand on our own two feet. For far too many decades, for far too many generations, we have watched others take what is ours without respect or consent,” he said.