By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 9: The Sarawak government is not trying to pick a fight with Petronas and Putrajaya, except to ask for what is due to the state.
State Legal Advisor Datuk Seri JC Fong said the state government is not even asking for the 20 per cent oil royalty but to merely looking forward to have active participation in the oil and gas industry.
“We are not asking for something extraordinary. We are only asking for something very reasonable.
“We are asking for two things. Firstly, a fairer share of the oil and gas revenue derived from production in Sarawak and more opportunities in the LNG plant as mentioned by chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We are not asking for free share, we are asking for share based on arm’s length transaction,” he told a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here today.
He added: “We are asking for share in those oil production areas belonging to Petronas Carigali. We are not talking about other oil companies. We want to have a share in that.
“Why? Because that would help us to be active participants and to enable Sarawakians to actively participate in the oil and gas industry. So that is the issue.”
Fong said the second request was for Sarawakians to become active participants in the oil and gas downstream activities. Sarawak needs to be heavily involved in downstream activities to enable the people to participate in the oil and gas industry on the whole.
He confirmed that oil and gas companies operating in Sarawak such as Shell, Murphy Oil, Nippon and Pertamina have paid the five per cent sales tax on petroleum products except Petronas. — DayakDaily
