PBB Youth: We will not be intimidated in defending what is lawfully ours

 KUCHING, Feb 24 2026: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth wing has maintained that standing up for constitutional rights should not be misconstrued. 

It said Sarawak will not be intimidated in defending what is lawfully ours.

“Seeking clarity through the courts should not and must not negate the importance of dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect within the federation,”  PBB Youth said when commenting on a decision of the state government to file a petition in the Federal Court to determine the constitutional validity and applicability of several federal laws that affect Sarawak’s rights to its natural resources.

It stressed that Sarawak has consistently maintained that the management and regulation of its natural resources must be exercised in accordance with the constitutional arrangements upon

which Malaysia was formed, including the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the

safeguards embodied in the Federal Constitution.

“It must therefore be clearly understood that Sarawak’s position is neither arbitrary nor emotional.

“Our arguments are firm, legally grounded and deeply rooted in the constitutional framework that has established the federation.

“Amid certain narratives emerging from Malaya suggesting that Sarawak is acting out of self-interest, this petition demonstrates the opposite.,” PBB Youth stressed.

It also said that Sarawak is pursuing the proper legal avenue to state its position and seek authoritative determination from the court.

Deputy Minister of Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali 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 Hasidah 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.

 

 

 

 

SUPP Women: Petronas has initiated a series of legal actions against Sarawak since 2018

KUCHING, Feb 24 2026: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women section has asserted that it is entirely justified and necessary for Sarawak government to seek authoritative constitutional clarification from the highest court on the constitutionality and applicability of petroleum laws on the state.

It said that Sarawak’s present petition is not an act of confrontation, it is an act of constitutional defence.

“Sarawak’s rights are not political concessions. They are entrenched in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which form the very foundation of Malaysia,” SUPP Women said in a statement to give support  to the Sarawak government’s move to file a petition in the Federal Court to challenge the constitutional applicability of federal oil and gas laws in Sarawak.

In a statement yesterday, Deputy Minister of  Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA53) and State-Federal Relations Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, has said the petition seeks a definitive determination on the constitutional validity and continued applicability in Sarawak of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974), Continental Shelf Act 1966 and Petroleum Mining Act 1966.

SUPP Women noted that since 2018, Petronas has initiated a series of legal actions involving Sarawak’s regulatory and fiscal authority.

It said these include the 2018 Federal Court application seeking declarations on the exclusivity of the PDA 1974 and the 2019–2020 judicial review challenging Sarawak’s 5 per cent State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products.

The others, SUPP Women said, are the 2025 High Court proceedings challenging Sarawak’s Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016 (DGO) licensing regime and the January 2026 Federal Court motion seeking clarification of the regulatory framework governing its operations in Sarawak.

“In June 2018, Petronas attempted to obtain declarations from the Federal Court asserting that the PDA 1974 governs the petroleum industry throughout Malaysia, that Petronas is the exclusive owner of petroleum resources, and that it is the sole upstream regulator — including in Sarawak.

“The Federal Court dismissed that application for leave on jurisdictional grounds,” it noted.

The section also said that in 2020, the Kuching High Court upheld Sarawak’s constitutional authority to impose its 5 per cent State Sales Tax, dismissing Petronas’ judicial review.

“Despite these outcomes, further challenges have continued,” SUPP Women noted.

It expressed its full confidence in the leadership of Sharifah Hasidah, who is spearheading Sarawak’s legal response.

“At this critical juncture, unity among Sarawakians is paramount,” SUPP Women said, calling upon all Sarawakians regardless of political affiliation to stand together in safeguarding the state’s natural resources, constitutional position, and future generations’ interests.

 

Man, 30, killed and two others injured when lorry loaded with fertiliser rams into rear of another lorry

SIBU, Feb 24 2026: A driver was killed while two spare drivers were seriously injured when a lorry they were in rammed into the rear of tanker lorry at Jalan Batu 12 early this morning.

Caption: Firemen extracting the body of the deceased from the wreckage 

Sibu Fire and Rescue Department, in a statement, identified the dead as Stanley Ali, 30, and the injured as Schwarznegger Samuel Anak Numpang,30, and Maxwell Anak Bernard Empam, 22.

The department said it received a call at about 4am, informing of a fatal accident.

It said the accident involved two lorries consisting of a lorry loaded with fertilizer that crashed into the back of a tanker lorry.

“After the size up was carried out, it was found that male victims were still trapped in the cabin of the fertilizer lorry while another was injured victim and  managed to get out and save himself,” the department said.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed that Stanley has died due to serious injuries.

His body was handed over to the police for further action while the two were taken to the hospital for treatment.

 

The state government's petition is to seek legal clarification on petroleum rights, Gira tells federal government

 

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.

Christopher Gira Sambang: At the same time, it must be recognised that the Borneo generation today is historically informed and constitutionally aware.

“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.