By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 27: Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Chief Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier, has clarified that the recent call for the disclosure of details regarding the resolution between Sarawak and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) over the ongoing gas distribution issue in the State should be addressed to Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, rather than Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He was referring to the Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s recent statement urging the Premier to disclose the details following the lack of a public update in the two weeks since the announcement.
He stressed that the Sarawak government is not keeping people in the dark over the gas distribution dispute, but rather, it has been very vocal in asserting the State’s rights.
“Our position is to leave the announcement to Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the formula of resolution as a matter of respect.
“However, until now we are yet to hear any announcements by the prime minister to put an end to this issue. The ball is now in the prime minister’s court,” he said in a statement today.
Fazzrudin further said that if anyone is taking Sarawakians for a ride, it is certainly not the Sarawak government.
He mentioned that Sarawak’s position is clear as the authority over gas distribution rests with the Sarawak government and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) is recognised as the sole gas aggregator.
He also urged Chong to declare his stance on the matter and work together with the Sarawak government in pressuring for a solution from Putrajaya.
“I feel this is the first time that I heard that Chong is talking about the gas distribution issue because all this while, he has remained silent while we, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the Sarawak government are vocal and fought relentlessly for Sarawak rights.
“Perhaps Chong and the Sarawak DAP can use their federal connections and ask their DAP party boss Anthony Loke (Federal Minister of Transport and DAP secretary-general) to get to the bottom of the issue with the prime minister. Perhaps Chong could even raise the issue with PMX (Anwar) himself.
“This will reflect the sincerity of the DAP in respecting and upholding Sarawak rights as they have claimed to do so many times before,” Fazzrudin emphasised. — DayakDaily
