High Court's decision in Petros vs Petronas has nothing to do with state government's petition seeking clarity on three federal laws, says Hasidah

KUCHING, Feb 26 2026:  The High Court's decision involving Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is deemed to be a commercial case between the two entities and does not affect the petition filed by the state government at the Federal Court to seek legal clarity on three federal laws that Sarawak is questioning their constitutional validity and applicability.

Sharifah Hasidah says the cases that involved Petros and Petronas are commercial in nature that they brought to court and the court’s decision is a decision that we as the people must respect. 

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said the public needs to understand that the court’s decision has nothing to do with legal action taken by the Sarawak government as both involve different matters in terms of scope and purpose.

According to her, the case between Petros and Petronas is a commercial dispute brought by the two companies themselves to court, while Sarawak's petition aims to seek interpretation and legal certainty regarding jurisdiction between the state and the Federation.

“The cases that involved Petros and Petronas are commercial in nature that they brought to court and the court’s decision is a decision that we as the people must respect.

“However, it has no relevance and does not affect the petition we filed at the Federal Court,” she was quoted by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas).

“Our petition is to seek clarity on the law that we have between the state and the federation. So these two matters are different, and it does not mean that the court’s decision in the commercial case will affect our petition,” she said when met by the media during the Taman Sukma Hall Project Handover Ceremony here this evening.

She added that the Sarawak government remains committed to continuing the ongoing legal process to ensure that the state’s rights can be clarified through the correct legal channels, thus avoiding confusion among the community on the issue.

“This is proven through the efforts and commitment of the state government in fighting for the rights of the people of Sarawak through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” she said.