By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 18: Sarawak government will ensure all oil and gas companies operating in Sarawak comply with Sarawak’s laws, including but not limited to the Land Code—particularly concerning land use for carbon storage—the State Sales Tax Ordinance, 1998, and the Oil Mining Ordinance, 1958 (OMO 1958), which governs the exploration and extraction of petroleum in onshore areas.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg affirmed that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government remains committed to upholding Sarawak’s constitutional rights and safeguards as enshrined in both the Federal and Sarawak Constitutions, as well as those accorded under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“In addition, the government will ensure that the federal government’s exercise of legislative powers under Item 8(j) of List I (Federal List) in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution—pertaining to the development of minerals, mining, oil, and oilfields—remains subject to Item 2(c) of List II (State List), which grants Sarawak authority over prospecting licences, mining leases, and certificates.
“This includes the legislative powers over electricity and gas distribution, which were vested in the Dewan Undangan Negeri under the Borneo States (Legislative Powers) Order 1963, made pursuant to Article 95(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, as recommended by the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) in 1962. These powers must be firmly safeguarded and respected by the federal government,” he said in a statement today.
Abang Johari was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement in Parliament yesterday (Feb 17), affirming that Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is the designated gas aggregator in Sarawak and that the Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO) 2016 provides the legal framework for Sarawak’s active participation in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking in Parliament, Anwar confirmed that Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) will continue to fulfill all existing domestic and international contractual obligations in Sarawak, even as Petros assumes the role of gas aggregator effective March 1.
He added that in line with the federal government’s aspiration to support Sarawak in engaging in the oil and gas industry in Sarawak, PETRONAS and Petros will move forward as partners to safeguard the interests and benefits of both the nation and Sarawak.
This was among the agreements both governments reached, which was in line with the spirit of federalism and the MA63. — DayakDaily
