By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 5: On the 51st anniversary of the tabling of the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) and PETRONAS’ establishment, it is time to relive and revive the spirit of 1974 not as a celebration, but as a call for reflection.
In a press release issued today, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said this in response to a column published on Malay Mail touching on the 51st anniversary of PDA 1974 and PETRONAS.
Yap said over the years, Sarawak, as a founding partner of Malaysia, has shared its oil and gas (O&G) resources in good faith with the expectation of fair development and equitable returns.
However, he said that the State has been shortchanged and has not received proportionate development, nor has its constitutional safeguards been fully respected.
“The PDA 1974 may have vested regulatory control over petroleum resources in PETRONAS, but it does not extinguish Sarawak’s inherent rights under the Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) 1958, Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO) 2016, and the protections guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and the safeguards in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The federal government’s continued marginalisation of Sarawak in development funding and resource revenue sharing is unacceptable,” he said.
He added that Sarawak must assert its rights over its oil and gas resources, ensuring that future negotiations with PETRONAS and the federal government are based on equality and that the demands of the people of Sarawak must be followed, which include:
- Fair revenue sharing: A just percentage of oil and gas revenue must be returned to Sarawak.
- Respect for constitutional safeguards:The federal government must honour and respect Sarawak’s rights under MA63, DGO, and OMO.
- Equitable development: Sarawak’s infrastructure, education, and healthcare must receive funding commensurate with our contributions.
“After 51 years, it is time for Putrajaya to rectify past injustices and treat Sarawak as an equal,” he said. — DayakDaily
