KUCHING, June 23: Sarawak’s victory in the Petronas vs Sarawak Government suit yesterday proved that the “London Trip” last year was not a wastage, said Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He called on Sarawakians not to rest on their laurels but continue to be vigilant over the state’s oil and gas rights.
Dr Sim was commenting on the case where Petronas filed an application before the Federal Court for leave to seek a declaration on the PDA. The national oil giant applied to have an exclusive right over oil and gas resources in Sarawak.
The Federal Court, in dismissing the application, held that the declaration sought by Petronas did not come within the ambit of Article 4 (4) of the Federal Constitution.
“This (court victory) proves that the London trip was not a wastage as previously claimed by DAP (Democratic Action Party),” said Dr Sim in a statement today.
“They previously claimed that if Pakatan Harapan comes to power, they would not even need negotiations to get back our rights.”
In July last year, Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali led an eight-member team of legal experts on a week-long fact-finding mission to London on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Dr Sim observed that before the Petronas case was heard before the Federal Court, DAP not only stayed silent but also stood by the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA).
“Worse still, DAP even misled Sarawak people to continue to believe and put blame on our past Sarawak government elected representatives for ‘signing away’ our rights.”
Dr Sim, who is also Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president, said this episode showed that DAP was merely a peninsula party that is not on Sarawak’s side.
“Despite the Federal Court decision, we, as the government of the day, must continue to be on our guard and be ready to safeguard Sarawak rights as we should anticipate more threats to our Sarawakian rights to come in the near future.
“Sarawakians must unite together to protect and fight for our rights. Sarawakians need to be aware that many are all out not only to continue to share what’s ours but to try and take them away from us and our future generations.
“Our rights are our rights. No individual official or any laws can diminish, take away or change the sovereignty rights that belong to Sarawak and her people,” said Dr Sim. — DayakDaily
