Sabah, Sarawak on same page in amending Article 1(2); Sabah demands 20 pct oil royalty based on gross profit

Abang Johari (seated left) and Shafie (seated right) speaking to reporters at the State Legislative Assembly Complex in Kuching.

– by Nigel Edgar

KUCHING, Oct 11: Sarawak and Sabah may be on the same page with regards to amending Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), but Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal insisted that Petronas grants 20 per cent of oil royalty to Sabah based on gross profit.

Shafie told reporters that there should be no excuse from Petronas about making losses if that was to be granted because the national oil company had been around since the 1970s.

“Not just MA63 but also 20 per cent oil royalty out of gross profit. I realised also cost would not be enough for Petronas, but they have been in business since 1974, so there must be some adjustments.

“We are not demanding 100 per cent. Our (Malaysia) oil production, 50 per cent is from Sabah, what more to say Sarawak. We don’t mind to share the wealth with the country but we are just asking for a little bit more from what is due for us,” he said after paying a courtesy call on Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the State Legislative Assembly complex here this afternoon.

Abang Johari, meanwhile, said he and Shafie did discuss the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution and MA63, but only briefly.

He said both states were roughly on the same page on the matter.

Shafie then emphasised that both states needed to sing the same tune when making their demands for the benefit of Sarawakians and Sabahans as well the nation as a whole. — DayakDaily