KUCHING, Feb 24 2026: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth contended that the decision by the state government to file a petition in the Federal Court on petroleum rights is not a confrontation in nature.
“This is a legal clarification.,” its chief Christopher Gira Sambang said in a statement to express full support for the principled and constitutional position articulated by Deputy Minister of Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and State-Federal Relations Sharifiah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali regarding the petition.
“Her statement reflects clarity, historical grounding and constitutional discipline,” Gira, who is also the State Legislative Member for Tamin, said.
Pointing out that MA63 is the founding covenant of Malaysia, Gira said Sarawak and Sabah entered Malaysia as founding partners — not subordinate states.
He stressed that rights over natural resources within pre-Malaysia boundaries were not concessions, but were inherent and constitutionally safeguarded.
“PRS Youth stands firmly behind the state leadership in defending those rights through the Federal Court and constitutional mechanisms.
“At the same time, it must be recognised that the Borneo generation today is historically informed and constitutionally aware,” he said.
Gira reminded that MA63 is not a symbolic rhetoric, but a legal foundation of the federation.
“If the rights agreed under MA63 are not fully realised, or are narrowly interpreted in ways that undermine its original spirit, it is reasonable that all lawful avenues grounded in universal principles of justice be considered to safeguard the integrity of that founding covenant,” he said.
“However, our priority remains resolution within Malaysia’s constitutional framework,” he said, stressing that “Borneo Solidarity is not political posturing”.
“It is the collective awareness that founding partners must be respected in a balanced federation,” he added, stressing that Sarawak strengthens Malaysia by upholding MA63.
Gira said Malaysia remains strong when its founding terms are honoured.
He urged respect the covenant, Borneo and the founding partners.
Sharifah Hasidaah said yesterday that the state government has filed a petition in the Federal Court to determine the constitutional validity and continued applicability of the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Continental Shelf Act 1966 and Petroleum Mining Act 1966 to Sarawak.
She said these federal Acts adversely affect and deprive the rights of Sarawak to the natural resources, including oil and gas, found in the seabed of the Continental Shelf within the boundaries as extended and defined by the Sarawak (Alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council 1954 and the Sarawak (Definition of Boundaries) Order in Council 1958.
She said under MA63 and the constitutional instruments annexed thereto, the sovereign rights to the petroleum resources in the seabed within Sarawak's boundaries, were vested on Malaysia Day by the British government, in Sarawak and not in the federation or federal government.
She noted that Item 2(c) of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution vests legislative authority in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA), to regulate the exercise of such petroleum rights through issuance of mining leases and certificates and prospecting licenses.
She added that the Continental Shelf Act, 1966 and the Petroleum Mining Act, 1966 were originally applicable to the States of Malaya, but extended to Sarawak by way of an Ordinance passed after the Proclamation of Emergency 1969.
“That Emergency was annulled by both Houses of Parliament in December 2011,” she said, adding that “therefore, by June 2012, these two (2) laws should no longer apply to Sarawak by reason of Article 150(7) of the federal Constitution”.
She noted that Petronas had on January 10 2026 filed an application to seek leave to apply to the Federal Court to challenge the validity of several state laws purportedly to seek judicial clarity on these laws which regulate Petronas' petroleum operations, business and other activities in Sarawak.
The application is scheduled for hearing by the Federal Court on March 16, 2026.
Sharifah Haisdah said the Sarawak government will be objecting to application which does not fall within the Federal Court's exclusive original jurisdiction under Article 128(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
As the Youth Chief of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and a component of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Government, I express full support for the principled and constitutional position articulated by YB Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department of Sarawak, regarding the Sarawak Government’s petition before the Federal Court on petroleum rights.
Her statement reflects clarity, historical grounding and constitutional discipline.
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