KUCHING, Dec 16: The suggestion that Sarawak acquire a stake in Petronas was not among issues discussed in depth in the MA63 Steering Committee.
According to a press statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) today, details on matters concerning oil and gas is deliberated in a separate discussion between the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of Sarawak and Sabah respectively.
The press statement was issued in response to a statement by Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen yesterday. Chong claimed that there was no objection when the suggestion was raised in MA63 Steering Committee for Sarawak to purchase a share in Petronas equity. Chong had also pointed out that the Sarawak government in the past had purchased stakes in various oil and gas companies including a Petronas subsidiary in the state.
However, the CMO press statement did not explicitly name Chong, only stating that it was issued in response to a similar statement by a Sarawak deputy federal minister. Chong is Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
CMO via today’s press statement also asserted that the said deputy minister was not privy to the detailed information with regards to oil and gas share issues and is not an authority to divulge any information on such a discussion, if any.
“In addition, it must be noted that the purchase of stakes in Petronas’ subsidiary companies cannot be equated with similar purchase in the Petronas proper as the parent company.
“Sarawak have (sic) stakes in Petronas’ subsidiaries namely LNG and is an equity partner in SMDS.”
CMO also reiterated that there is no offer yet on Petronas equity proper. — DayakDaily
