By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 14: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has reaffirmed the State’s constitutional rights in managing its oil and gas (O&G) resources, dismissing claims that the establishment of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) represents a power grab.
He cited Item 8(j) of the List I (Federal list) in the Ninth Schedule which states that any mining activities in any area in Malaysia are subject to the authority of the state under Item 2(c) of the State List.
“When I reviewed this, it became evident that before any extraction takes place, permission must be obtained first. Essentially, one must ask for approval—”Assalamualaikum, may I proceed with this extraction?”
“Since Petros is a Sarawak-owned company and we want to participate in this industry, it plays its role as the sole aggregator of gas distribution in Sarawak according to the provisions outlined in the law,” he said during a townhall session in conjunction with Premier of Sarawak’s 8th anniversary held at Hikmah Exchange and Event Centre (HEEC) here last night (Jan 13).
Abang Johari clarified that Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) continues to lead in upstream activities, while Petros focuses on gas distribution and ensuring that resources are utilised to benefit Sarawak.
“Petros is responsible for managing gas distribution, which is vital for industries such as Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB). This aligns with the late Tok Nan’s vision that Sarawak should not just watch but actively participate in the O&G industry,” he added, referring to the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
He reiterated that cooperation between Petros and PETRONAS is essential for mutual growth but stressed that PETRONAS must respect Petros’ role as mandated by Sarawak’s constitutional rights.
“That is why, from a legal framework perspective, I believe it is not wrong for Petros to work with PETRONAS. At the same time, PETRONAS must also respect Petros–they are there because of our constitutional rights,” he emphasised. – DayakDaily
