KUCHING. July 26: Sarawak should stop the plundering of its oil and gas resources by Putrajaya, as there have been little returns for the state in the last 55 years.
Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) representative Dinis Repong said the Sarawak government must now insist on taking 100 per cent of its oil royalty.
Dinis said this was because the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government seemed to be more interested in protecting Petronas’ financial position instead of fulfilling its GE14 manifesto, citing Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s statement at the Parliament lobby today.
Azmin said the national oil corporation would cease operations if it acceded to demands for 20 per cent oil royalty to be paid to oil-producing states based on gross production instead of net profit.
In a statement today, Dinis believed Petronas’ main income was from the oil and gas resources extracted from Sarawak.
“It is not hard to understand why Malaya has used all tactics just to monopolise Sarawak’s oil and gas resources. From this point of view, it is enough to prove that in 55 years, Malaya can’t live without Sarawak.
“Peninsula Malaysia has enjoyed strong economic growth and positioned itself as a strong developing region in South East Asia by relying on Sarawak’s oil and gas. Sarawak, however, is little known to the world,” he said.
Dinis lamented that over the years, Sarawakians had been too good-hearted, and this led to the continuous manipulations by Putrajaya.
“It is not for the Pakatan government to decide whether the oil and gas rights are returned to Sarawak or not, because it is the property of Sarawak. The decision should be in the hands of Sarawakians,” he opined. — DayakDaily
