By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 8: Sarawakian activist Peter John Jaban has issued a strong rebuke against the continued exploitation of Sarawak’s rights and resources, warning that true “national cohesion” cannot be achieved without respect, equity, and dignity for all.
In a statement today, he called on Federal leaders to stop hiding behind “unity” rhetoric as a shield for federal overreach, and demanded the full return of Sarawak’s oil and gas rights as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We demand full return of oil and gas rights to Sarawak as per MA63. An end to exploitative arrangements that have robbed generations of Sarawakians of their rightful share.
“Enough is enough.
“Sarawak has been so patient but patience is not submission.
“We will not compromise on our rights, our resources, or our future,” he said this in response to a recent statement made by Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin, who urged that Sarawak’s demands over oil and gas be addressed “in a spirit of unity and fairness”, while emphasising that “Petronas is meant for the country”.
“Let us be clear, Sarawakians have been economically short-changed and politically marginalised for the past 60 years under a system that systematically drained our natural resources while giving us disproportionately little in return.
“The MA63 guaranteed us autonomy, rights over natural resources, and revenue entitlements many of which have been ignored, diluted, or outright denied.
“Malaya must know our position,” he stressed.
“Sarawak is not a mere ‘component state’—we are a founding partner of Malaysia. Our rights under MA63 are not to be negotiated in the spirit of unity but to be respected as binding legal obligations.
“Petronas does not own Sarawak’s oil and gas it has been exploiting our resources for decades while our roads crumble, our schools rot, and our people struggle with basic amenities,” he added.
Earlier this week, according to a report by FMT, Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin urged that Sarawak’s oil and gas demands be addressed “in a spirit of unity and fairness,” emphasising the need for constructive dialogue that promotes national cohesion rather than deepens division.
He had also called for the issue to be depoliticised, suggesting that Federal and State leaders avoid framing it as a conflict and instead pursue direct negotiations between Sarawak and Petronas. – DayakDaily
