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KUCHING, Sept 6: Former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has challenged Malaya leaders to engage Sarawak on the State’s claim on the six oil wells found off Sarawak’s coast.
He dared them to do so and called on them not to sleep and let Sarawak “get away with this latest claim”, citing the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74) and Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA2012).
“Six more oil wells were found and Sarawak instantly made its claim. Apparently, their 1958 law gives them ownership of the wells under the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“Wakil Rakyat from Tanah Melayu must not sleep and let Sarawak get away with this latest claim. Sarawak is a signatory to the 1974 Agreement with Petronas and is also bound by the law of Sea 2012 (Territorial Sea Act 2012) passed by Parliament. The territorial sea is fixed at 12 nautical miles,” said Zaid in a post dated August 23 on the social media platform X formerly known as Twitter.
He asserted that since the six oil wells were found within Malaysia’s EEZ, they automatically belong to the federal government, citing a case between the Australian government and the state of Victoria.
He thus challenged leaders from Malaya to engage Sarawak on the issue and questioned if these Malayan leaders are only good at talking about superficial reforms and would not defend the interests of Orang Malaya.
“As for the EEZ, surely the Federation of Malaysia is entitled to the oil found there. The States in Australia like Victoria, could not lay claim to the EEZ where the highest court ruled the economic zone as belonging to the Commonwealth and not the states.
“Will our leaders from Semenanjung dare to engage with Sarawak on the issue? Or are they only good at talking about superficial reforms? When will they start defending the interests of Orang Malaya? I wonder,” said Zaid. — DayakDaily
