by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 3: Using the “flawed” Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74) to erase Sarawak’s rights, and applying pressure to undermine the State and Petros, is simply unacceptable, says political analyst Dato Peter Minos.
In a statement, Minos strongly criticised the national oil company Petronas of employing “every trick under the sun” to undermine Sarawak and its State-owned oil and gas company, Petros.
“Why should Sarawak back down because Sarawak is doing the right thing: the oil and gas found in Sarawak’s soil and its continental shelf, by both legal rights (Oil Mining Ordinance 1958) and natural and universal rights, belong to Sarawak.
“Thus, anyone or any group must get permission from Sarawak before getting their hands on our oil and gas resources.
“Using flawed PDA74 to erase our rights is simply unacceptable. Applying pressure on Sarawak by underhanded tactics, like threats and press war, is also unacceptable,” Minos argued.
He further called on Sarawakians to stand firm, expressing support for Petros in its struggle to assert Sarawak’s rights.
“We are just trying to get a bit more money from our own oil and gas resources. We are not grabbing everything. We are not asking for the moon.
“Why can’t Petronas think this way and treat Sarawak with respect and reasonableness,” he said.
While acknowledging Petronas’s role in national development, Minos emphasised that the issue at hand is about Sarawak’s right to its own natural resources.
“Of course, we do think of our national interests. We do know and appreciate Petronas’ role in national development.
“But the issue here is Sarawak’s rights to its natural resources like oil and gas and of our desire to enjoy more from such resources,” he added. – DayakDaily
