KUCHING, June 6: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will leave it to the court to decide on Petronas’ recent filing which puts it at odds with the stance of the Sarawak government.
He said since both Petronas and the Sarawak government were claiming ownership of oil and gas development in Sarawak, he would leave it for the court to decide.
“I leave it to Petronas, whether they can succeed or not in the court action they have taken.
“We will honour all that we have committed to (Sarawak), but Petronas claims that (PDA) Petroleum Development Act (which gives) Petronas certain powers, which now the Sarawak government says they are also entitled to it, to exercise such power, and so as the case has gone to the court and (we will) let the court decide,” said Mahathir today at a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting at Kompleks Perdana Putra today
Petronas filed an application before the Federal Court seeking a declaration on the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) being the law applicable for the petroleum industry in Malaysia.
The declaration would make Petronas the exclusive owner of petroleum resources as well as the regulator for the upstream industry throughout Malaysia, including in Sarawak.
Petronas in a statement issued on June 4 said that the determination by the Federation Court would help provide clarity on its rights and position under the PDA.
Petronas said it would remain committed to supporting Sarawak’s aspiration to participate in the oil and gas industry but it had to be within the framework of the PDA. — DayakDaily
